Recycling Plastic. However, recycling plastic is not without its faults. While the current recycling system used

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1 Govea 1 Araceli Govea Professor Hamalian English December 2014 Recycling Plastic I conducted an interview on campus where I asked students simple questions such as Do you think recycling plastic is important? to which 90% responded enthusiastically that it was. This survey demonstrates that recycling is in fact considered an important aspect of campus life. However, recycling plastic is not without its faults. While the current recycling system used nation wide and by California State University, Northridge functions, there are still improvements to be made in the role of the individual as well as plastic recycling process. On campus everyone is encouraged to recycle their bottles, cans, paper, ink cartridges, and other objects. In fact, according to the Associated Students page on the CSUN website there are more than 200 locations where a student or faculty member can recycle. Throughout the campus there are three bins in a row labeled landfill/trash, paper," and bottles and cans. These cans serve to cut down the process as a whole by eliminating some of the time spent on sorting the plastic. The campus is doing a great job at promoting recycling and cutting down our impact on the world however, certain methods employed by recycling companies are not necessarily environmentally friendly. When a single bottle is placed in the recycling bin it undergoes a long journey from just a bottle to a pellet (a pellet is what they call the end result of the recycled plastic). To begin the journey, the bottle is picked up by either a truck on the curb, or collected at a recycling center.

2 Govea 2 The problem that arises here is that the sorted materials from campus may get contaminated with the materials collected from homes. Moreover, the recycling plant must spend extra time and energy in order to separate the plastics. Although the campus makes the extra effort to separate bottles most people don t have that option. They are encouraged to combine everything that can be recycled into one blue container. Generally, homes have 3 bins, one dedicated solely to garbage, another for recyclables, and a third one for green waste. While the current system of recycling functions well, changes can be implemented to ensure this system is working to its full potential. For example, in Japan citizens play a more prominent role in the recycling process compared to Americans. Furthermore, according to Plastic Waste Management Institute the role of Japanese consumers is to reduce their waste emission through making reasonable choices of containers and packaging and sort their containers and packaging waste for collection. Meaning that Japanese citizens separate their waste into burnable, non burnable, and recyclables (Plastic Waste Management Institute). The separation process reduces the chances of contamination as well as prevents plastic materials from going directly to landfills. The system functions more cohesively because the Japanese residents are playing an active role in separating the trash, while the Japanese Government is playing its role at making this system of manageable. According to the City of Los Angeles Sanitation, All Clean Plastics 1 Through 7 [can be recycled]. However, of those 7 plastics only PET (used for synthetic fibers and water bottles) and high density polyethylene (HDPE, used for jugs, bottle caps, water pipes) are actually recycled. PETE or PET and HDPE are commonly recycled, these are common household goods such as milk jugs, shampoo, beverage bottles, as well as other goods. However, those bottles that

3 Govea 3 do not pass inspection are sent back to landfills. Furthermore, the money and resources spent picking up the plastic is essentially wasted because it meets the same end as regular trash. Although CSUN sorts the bottles from the trash, when these bottles are collected they're thrown into the same batch as the plastic coming from homes. To remedy this issue, we could implement similar practices used in the Japanese recycling process, such as the separation between burnable, non burnable, and recyclable. Natural resources are also used in the recycling process. These resources include water which is used in the sanitation process and perhaps in the production of energy (depending on the recycling plant). Additionally, oil is a natural resource which is used to power up the machines and in the initial making of the plastic object. Some of the recycling program s funding could be transferred to research companies to create a more environmentally friendly plastic that can be recycled or incinerated easier. Essentially, making the product environmentally friendly before it reaches the consumer. An interesting dynamic is demonstrated in the recycling plants themselves due to the fact that they too are contributing to the pollution transmitted. The chemicals used in the process itself feeds into the idea that if someone recycles all the damage caused will be essentially forgiven. Among our society there is a definitely a false sense that we are making a substantial difference with the current recycling methods. By recycling we are being reactive, not proactive. We are forgetting that there is a reduce and reuse to the equation, not just recycle. It is argued that recycling plastic promotes sustainability for years to come, meaning if we recycle we will use up less of our virgin materials. While I agree that we need to allocate our natural resources more carefully, we also need to view the picture as a whole. Recycling is not free of harm and

4 Govea 4 the systems can still be improved on. For example, developing new ways to recycle the plastic that may not be profitable. Furthermore, we need to emphasize the importance of reducing and reusing, not just recycling. Efforts on campus should be made to promote the idea that we must be proactive individuals who are willing to reduce our impact. Recycling should continue, but only as the final step in the process. As a campus we could promote the idea of reduction. Furthermore, plastic recycling may produce short term results, but in the long run the object will end up in a landfill. It is almost pessimistic to conclude that in a few years the recycled pallets will end up as a tote bag in the garbage. Which is why we should also focus on creating products that are environmentally friendly beginning with the producer. On the bright side CSUN has made some changes to ease the plastic consumption. Water refill stations have been installed, which gives students the option to purchase an environmentally friendly alternative. There is a whole world of economics behind recycling, plastics in high demand are routinely recycled while those that are not profitable are not. Certain plastics like Polystyrene, are difficult to decompose, so they end up in landfills. According to Luke Vernon from EcoRamblings, At the macro-level, a container s recyclability is determined by the market demand for that specific type of reclaimed product [taking into consideration both resin type and shape) (Vernon). If a type of plastic is in demand, then the recycling plants will put forth the effort to recycle, however if the plastic is not in demand it may or may not get recycled. The economics behind recycling explains why some plastics are not commonly recycled. The recycling program at CSUN has great intentions, but those intentions may be over shadowed by some of the inefficiencies of the recycling plants. Students and staff, should take a

5 Govea 5 moment to reflect which areas in their lives they can perhaps consume less. This may be as simple as buying a reusable container to carry water instead of purchasing water bottles. Additionally, as a nation of environmentally friendly individuals we should propose that the green process begins at the production area, not just once we are done with the product. These changes make the differences between a bottle ending up at a landfill or a recycling plant.

6 Govea 6 Works Cited Associated Students. "Recycling." Csun.edu. California State University, Northridge, n.d. Web. 02 Dec City of Los Angeles Sanitation. "Recycling." Bureau of Sanitation. N.p., Web. 01 Dec Cooper, Mary H. "The Economics of Recycling." CQ Researcher 27 Mar. 1998: Web. 4 Dec Plastic Waste Management Institute. An Introduction to Plastic Recycling. Chuo-Ku, Tokyo: n.p., PDF. Vernon, Luke. "Why All Plastic Containers Can't Be Recycled." Eco Ramblings RSS. N.p. Feb Web. 04 Dec