Environment: Keweenaw UU Fellowship

Upgrading Your Appliances? Top Tips For Dealing With E-waste

by: Beth Buczynski

Everyone from diehard conservationists to the federal government is encouraging people to swap their old appliances and electronics for more efficient versions which bear the EnergyStar label. Using less energy is good for your wallet, and the planet, so it's a good idea to take this advice if you have the resources.

However, refrigerators, computers, dishwashers, VCRs, dryers and other electronic appliances are part of the hazardous waste category commonly referred to as "e-waste", and that means simply leaving them by the curb for the garbage truck isn't an option.

The EPA defines hazardous waste as:

"...Waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes.

Lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants are among the substances of concern in electronics. These substances are included in the products for important performance characteristics, but can cause problems if the products are not properly managed at end of life."

Here are some planet-friendly suggestions about how to handle those old appliances so that they are utilized to their fullest extent, and properly disposed of...

RECYCLE

Electronics can't be placed at the curb with your bottles and cans) and even if you arrange for pick up from your usual trash hauler, the odds are that they'll simply toss it in the landfill. And then there's the worry that the local electronics "recycler" might just ship them overseas where they'll be picked over by low income families and then incinerated.

Good e-waste recyclers will dismantle the various components of your appliance so that the metals and plastics can be recycled seperately. Then, they will arrange for hazardous elements to be diposed of properly.

For organizations providing information on electronics donation and recycling opportunities in your area, please visit the EPA's Where Can I Donate My Old Computer and Other Electronic Products? page. You can also check out independent resource sites like Earth911.org which has a directory of recycling facilities all accross the country, plus information about how and why to recycle different materials.

If you're not to keen on finding a way to haul your old stereo all the way across town to the local e-recycler, you should know that there are several online services that will not only take your e-waste, they might even pay you for it! All you have to do is search for your device, agree to sell it back at the offered price, ship it in and wait for your check.

Gazelle provides a practical, responsible, rewarding way for consumers to get value for used electronics. Even if Gazelle can't make you an offer for your Zac Morris phone, they'll still let you send it in for recycling at no charge.

YouRenew is another company dedicated to taking the hassle out of selling or recycling your old devices: you don’t need to make an account, use your credit card, or pay for shipping. Also for each item you recycle with YouRenew, they'll give you the choice to make a positive impact on the environment. They’ve partnered with Carbonfund.org and Americanforests.org to allow users to donate the price of their electronics towards domestic renewable energy or reforestation efforts.

DONATE

If you’ve recently upgraded a phone, television or other popular electronic appliance, but the old version still works, it might seem like a waste just to ship it off to a recycler, even if there are few bucks in it for you. If no one in your immediate circle of friends can find a use for the item, consider putting it up for grabs on the Freecycle Network, a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who give (& get) stuff for free in their own towns. More trust worthy and locally focused than Craig’s List, each local group is moderated by a local volunteer and membership is free. To sign up, find your community group at http://www.freecycle.org/.

You might also think about donating appropriate electronics to non-profit organizations that could use them to further their cause.

Earth911.org states:

"The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 states that companies donating personal computers to schools qualify for an enhanced charitable deduction benefit. It also expands tax incentives for private companies donating computer technology, equipment or software to K-12 classrooms."

Some sites worth checking out:

The Electronics Industry Alliance (EIA), is a national trade organization that includes the full spectrum of U.S. electronics product manufacturers, and maintains a listing of organizations nationwide that accept donations of electronics products.

Share the Technology provides a way for donors and potential recipients to connect, no matter where they are in the country.

Through an extraordinary, nationwide partnership, the Computers for Schools Program welcomes contribution of quality computer equipment and support dollars to accomplish their refurbishing work from donors across the nation.

The Wireless Foundation collects wireless phones to benefit victims of domestic violence.

KUUF Social Justice Committee

Summary: This Wikipedia article [below] on Plastics recycling

will tell you as much as or more than you probably want to know about

recycling plastic. Waste Management in Houghton (where Hancock

curbside pickup goes, I'm told) recycles only #1 (PETE) and #2

(HDPE), but the article didn't tell me what one has to do to recycle

the other kinds (esp. #7, PLA which is the 'what-the-heck-is-it'

category -- a real failure of the system, imo). The best way to

deal with this stubborn, highly complex material, which requires more

processing to recycle than most others, would still have to be to

AVOID IT WHENEVER HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

Next time -- the effect of discarded plastic on the oceans where our

fish comes from.

From Barry Pegg

Below FROM:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_recycling

Plastic recycling

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastics and reprocessing the material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state. For instance, this could mean melting down soft drink bottles then casting them as plastic chairs and tables.

Before recycling, plastics are sorted according to their resin identification code, a method of categorization of polymer types, which was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry in 1988. Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly referred to as PET, for instance, has a resin code of 1.

When compared to other materials like glass and metal materials, plastic polymers require greater processing to be recycled.^{[citation needed]} Plastics have a low entropy of mixing, which is due to the high molecular weight of their large polymer chains. A macromolecule interacts with its environment along its entire length, so its enthalpy of mixing is large compared to that of an organic molecule with a similar structure. Heating alone is not enough to dissolve such a large molecule; because of this, plastics must often be of nearly identical composition in order to mix efficiently.

When different types of plastics are melted together they tend to phase-separate, like oil and water, and set in these layers. The phase boundaries cause structural weakness in the resulting material, meaning that polymer blends are only useful in limited applications.

Another barrier to recycling is the widespread use of dyes, fillers, and other additives in plastics. The polymer is generally too viscous to economically remove fillers, and would be damaged by many of the processes that could cheaply remove the added dyes. Additives are less widely used in beverage containers and plastic bags, allowing them to be recycled more frequently.

The use of biodegradable plastics is increasing. If some of these get mixed in the other plastics for recycling, the reclaimed plastic is not recyclable because the variance in properties and melt temperatures.^[1]

Many such problems can be resolved by using a more elaborate monomer recycling process, in which a condensation polymer essentially undergoes the inverse of the polymerization reaction used to manufacture it. This yields the same mix of chemicals that formed the original polymer, which can be purified and used to synthesize new polymer chains of the same type. Du Pont opened a pilot plant of this type in Cape Fear, North Carolina, USA, to recycle PET by a process of methanolysis, but it closed the plant due to economic pressures.^[2]

Another potential option is the conversion of assorted polymers into petroleum by a much less precise thermal depolymerization process. Such a process would be able to accept almost any polymer or mix of polymers, including thermoset materials such as vulcanized rubber tires and the biopolymers in feathers and other agricultural waste. Like natural petroleum, the chemicals produced can be made into fuels as well as polymers. A pilot plant of this type exists in Carthage, Missouri, USA, using turkey waste as input material. See the main article on thermal depolymerization. Gasification is a similar process, but is not technically recycling since polymers are not likely to become the result.

Recently, a process has also been developed in which many kinds of plastic can be used as a carbon source in the recycling of scrap steel.^[3]

Yet another process that is gaining ground with startup companies (especially in Australia, United States and Japan) is heat compression.^{[citation needed]} The heat compression process takes all unsorted, cleaned plastic in all forms, from soft plastic bags to hard industrial waste, and mixes the load in tumblers (large rotating drums resembling giant clothes dryers). The most obvious benefit to this method is the fact that all plastic is recyclable, not just matching forms. However, criticism rises from the energy costs of rotating the drums, and heating the post-melt pipes.

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Applications

Main article: Recycling of PET bottles

Post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (number 1), also known as PET, is often used as the raw material for a range of products. To obtain the pure PET, the recycled items, such as plastic bottles and containers(the main use for PET), are first inspected for any non PET materials^[4]. These materials are then removed and the PET items are sorted into different color fractions, cleaned, and prepared for processing^[5]. This sorted post-consumer PET waste is crushed, chopped into flakes, pressed into bales, and offered for sale^[6].

One use for this recycled PET that has recently started to become popular is to create fabrics to be used in the clothing industry^[7]. The fabrics are created by spinning the PET flakes into thread and yarn^[8]. This is done just as easily as creating polyester from brand new PET^[9]. The recycled PET thread or yarn can be used either alone or together with other fibers to create a very wide variety of fabrics. Traditionally these fabrics were used to create strong, durable, rough, products, such as jackets, coat, shoes, bags, hats, and accessories. However, these fabrics are usually to rough on the skin and could cause irritation. Therefore, they usually are not used on any clothing that may irritate the skin, or where comfort is required^[10]. But in today’s new eco-friendly world there has been more of a demand for “green” products. As a result, many clothing companies have started looking for ways to take advantage of this new market and new innovations in the use of recycled PET fabric are beginning to develop. These innovations included different ways to process the fabric^[11], to use the fabric, or blend the fabric with other materials^[12]. Some of the fabrics that are leading the industry in these innovations include Billabong's Eco-Supreme Suede^[13], Livity's Rip-Tide III^[14], Wellman Inc's Eco-fi(formerly known as EcoSpun)^[15], and Reware's Rewoven^[16]. Some additional companies that take pride in using recycled PET in their products are Crazy Shirts^[17] and Playback^[18].

PVC- or Vinyl Recycling has historically been difficult to perfect on the industrial scale.^{[citation needed]} But within the last decade several viable methods for recycling or upcycling PVC plastic have been developed.^{[citation needed]}

The most-often recycled plastic^{[citation needed]}, HDPE or number 2, is downcycled into plastic lumber, tables, roadside curbs, benches, truck cargo liners, trash receptacles, stationery (e.g. rulers) and other durable plastic products and is usually in demand.

The white plastic foam peanuts used as packing material are often accepted by shipping stores for reuse.^[19]

In Israel successful trials have shown that plastic films recovered from mixed municipal waste streams can be recycled into useful household products such as buckets.^[20]

Similarly, agricultural plastics such as mulch film, drip tape and silage bags are being diverted from the waste stream and successfully recycled ^[21] into much larger products for industrial applications such as plastic composite railroad ties.^[22] Historically, these agricultural plastics have primarily been either landfilled or burned on-site in the fields of individual farms.^[23]

CNN reports that Indian Dr. S. Madhu of the Kerala Highway Research Institute has formulated a road surface that includes recycled plastic.^{[citation needed]} Aggregate, bitumen (asphalt) with plastic that has been shredded and melted at a temperature below 220 degrees C (428 °F) to avoid pollution. This road surface is claimed to be very durable and monsoon rain resistant. The plastic is sorted by hand, which is economical in India. The test road used 60 kg of plastic for an approx. 500m long, 8m wide, two-lane road.

[edit] Financial justification

In 2008, the price of PETE dropped from $370/ton in the US to $20 in November.^{[clarification needed][24]}. PET prices had returned to their long term averages by May 2009.^[25]

[edit] Consumer education

[edit] United States

Plastic recycling rates lag far behind those of other items, such as newspaper (about 80%) and corrugated fiberboard (about 70%).^[26] Low national plastic recycling rates have been due to the complexity of sorting and processing, unfavorable economics, and consumer confusion about which plastics can actually be recycled.^[27] Part of the confusion has been due to the recycling symbol that is usually on all plastic items^{[citation needed]}. This symbol is called a resin identification code. It is stamped or printed on the bottom of containers and surrounded by a triangle of arrows. (See the table in Plastic.) The intent of these arrows was to make it easier to identify plastics for recycling. The recycling symbol doesn’t necessarily mean that the item will be accepted by residential recycling programs.^[28] They just indicate the plastic resin content.^[29]

[edit] United Kingdom

In the UK, the amount of post-consumer plastic being recycled is relatively low^[30], due in part to a lack of recycling facilities.

[edit] Plastic Identification Code

Main article: Resin identification code

Seven groups of plastic polymers,^[31] each with specific properties, are used worldwide for packaging applications (see table below). Each group of plastic polymer can be identified by its Plastic Identification code (PIC) - usually a number or a letter abbreviation. For instance, Low-Density Polyethylene can be identified by the number 4 and/or the letters "LDPE". The PIC appears inside a three-chasing arrow recycling symbol. The symbol is used to indicate whether the plastic can be recycled into new products.

The PIC was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. which provides a uniform system for the identification of different polymer types and helps recycling companies to separate different plastics for reprocessing. Manufacturers of plastic products are required to use PIC labels in some countries/regions ^[32] and can voluntarily mark their products with the PIC where there are no requirements. Consumers can identify the plastic types based on the codes usually found at the base or at the side of the plastic products, including food/chemical packaging and containers. The PIC is usually not present on packaging films, as it is not practical to collect and recycle most of this type of waste.

Plastic Identification Code	Type of plastic polymer	Properties	Common Packaging Applications
	Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE)	Clarity, strength, toughness, barrier to gas and moisture.	Soft drink, water and salad dressing bottles; peanut butter and jam jars
	High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)	Stiffness, strength, toughness, resistance to moisture, permeability to gas.	Water pipes, Hula-Hoop (children's game) rings, Milk, juice and water bottles; the occasional shampoo / toiletry bottle
	Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)	Versatility, clarity, ease of blending, strength, toughness.	Juice bottles; cling films; PVC piping
	Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)	Ease of processing, strength, toughness, flexibility, ease of sealing, barrier to moisture.	Frozen food bags; squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard; cling films; flexible container lids.
	Polypropylene (PP)	Strength, toughness, resistance to heat, chemicals, grease and oil, versatile, barrier to moisture.	Reusable microwaveable ware; kitchenware; yogurt containers; margarine tubs; microwaveable disposable take-away containers; disposable cups and plates.
	Polystyrene (PS)	Versatility, clarity, easily formed	Egg cartons; packing peanuts; disposable cups, plates, trays and cutlery; disposable take-away containers;
	Other (often polycarbonate or ABS)	Dependent on polymers or combination of polymers	Beverage bottles; baby milk bottles; electronic casing.

This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009)

The quantity of post-consumer plastics recycled has increased every year since at least 1990. In 2006 the amount of plastic bottles recycled reached a record high of 2.2 trillion pounds.

The amount of PET bottles recycled in 2006 increased more than 102 million pounds compared to 2005.

HDPE bottle recycling increased in 2005 to 928 million pounds.

All plastic bottles were recycled at a rate of 24 percent in 2005.

[edit] See also

Reuse of water bottles

[edit] References

^ http://cygnus-group.com/use-less-stuff/Paper-and-Plastic-Grocery-Bag-LCA-Summary-3-21-08.pdf
^ http://www.allbusiness.com/chemicals/chemicals-overview/9060603-1.html
^ Steel CNN, Accessed 9.11.06
^ http://www.rewarestore.com/tech_recycled_pet.html
^ http://www.eartheasy.com/wear_ecospun.htm
^ http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/environment_sciences/report-7183.html
^ http://www.thisisbrandx.com/2009/11/trashy-chic-recycled-clothing-from-playback.html
^ http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/environment_sciences/report-7183.html
^ http://www.rewarestore.com/tech_recycled_pet.html
^ http://www.sustainableisgood.com/products/2008/04/billabong.html
^ http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/environment_sciences/report-7183.html
^ http://www.billabongbiz.com/bethechange/environment.php?page=sustainable
^ http://www.billabongbiz.com/bethechange/environment.php?page=sustainable
^ http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/rip-tide-livity.php
^ http://www.eartheasy.com/wear_ecospun.htm
^ http://www.rewarestore.com/tech_recycled_pet.html
^ http://www.gogreenstreet.com/eco-friendly-recycled-plastic-bottle-board-shorts/
^ http://www.thisisbrandx.com/2009/11/trashy-chic-recycled-clothing-from-playback.html
^ http://www.allbusiness.com/consumer-products/office-supplies-equipment/6916130-1.html
^ Plastic trial procedure Oaktech Environmental website, accessed 9.11.06
^ Agricultural plastics recycling process Agricultural plastics recycling website, accessed 07.11.08
^ Plastic Composite Railroad Tie Facts Plastic Composite Railroad Ties website, accessed 01.21.08
^ Recycling Used Agricultural Plastics James W. Garthe, Paula D. Kowal, PennState University, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
^ Page, Candace, Waste district raises recycling fees, Burlington Free Press, November 12, 2008
^ Financial Times, May 15, 2009 (article by Max Hogg)
^ The Self-Sufficiency Handbook: A Complete Guide to Greener Living by Alan Bridgewater pg. 62--Skyhorse Publishing Inc., 2007 ISBN 1602391637, 9781602391635
^ "Where can we put all those plastics?". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2003730398_ecoconsumer02.html. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
^ Where can we put all those plastics? By Tom Watson June 2, 2007 Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2003730398_ecoconsumer02.html
^ Recycling FAQ by Ginny Figlar http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Recycling-FAQ.html
^ Plastics wasteonline.org.uk, Accessed 10.18.07
^ "Safe Use Of Plastic Food Packaging And Containers". http://www.ava.gov.sg/FoodSector/FoodSafetyEducation/Food+Facts/SafeUsePlasticContainers/index.htm.
^ "19". Holt Chemistry (Florida edition). Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. 2006. p. 702. ISBN 0-03-039114-8. "More than hlf the states in the United States have enacted laws that require plastic products to be labeled with numerical codes that identify the type of plastic used in them."

[edit] External links

West, Larry. "Recyclable Plastic: Why are So Few Food Containers Made of Recyclable Plastic?". About.com. http://environment.about.com/od/reducingwaste/a/corn_plastic.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
Plastic Packaging Resin Codes data from the American Chemistry Council
ISF's Plastics Recovery Manual

[show]

v • d • e

Recycling by material

[show] v • d • e Health issues of plastics and Polyhalogenated compounds (PHC)'s

Plasticizers: Phthalates

Other plasticizers

Monomers

Other additives incl. PHC's

Health issues

Miscellaneous

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_recycling"

Categories: Plastics | Recycling

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Environment: Keweenaw UU Fellowship

Thursday, March 3, 2011

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Upgrading Your Appliances? Top Tips For Dealing With E-waste

by: Beth Buczynski

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Plastic Recycling

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