 |
| May 13, 2025 |
Welcome! Click here to Login
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Click to visit the
Official Town Site
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Styrofoam peanuts and plastic wrap could be re-cycled. |
February 18, 2008
To the Editor:
These days everyone is talking about environmental issues - greenhouse gas and ozone, fossil fuel and hybrid cars, disposing of motor oil and batteries, use of recycled material, etc.
Yeah - so what about recycling? Many municipalities collect glass, paper and plastics these days. I'm sure it's not from the goodness to the environment, it is more about selling the materials on the 'scrap market'. These materials are collected and sold because there IS a market out there for them. What about things there is no commodities market for? Things that could be 'recycled' that are thrown away every day - styrofoam, packing peanuts, bubble wrap - that's right, shipping supplies.
Years back I was smart enough to invest in some companies like DHL, whose business had to picked up a lot due to the growing trend of 'e-commerce'. QVC, eBay, Barnes and Noble.com, Amazon.com, etc. all use materials that are used to protect the item from damage during shipment and we throw it all away - filling our landfills with packing peanuts and other things that are not biodegradable, but certainly re-usable!
I have a small eBay business and I retain all these shipping supplies all the time - peanuts, bubble wrap, etc. Bubble wrap gets rolled, peanuts go in a big bag - the same big bag I bought peanuts in last time at Staples for some $20+, bubble wrap isn't cheap either at some $20/roll. It kills me when I run out and have to buy this stuff and at $3 a gallon for gas to go there and back!
I smell an opportunity here for some group like the boy/girl scouts or similar to pickup and run with. Some garage or similar for storage facility used as a collection point for 'donations'. People could bring their shipping materials there and get a tax write-off, not much but something. The materials could be resold to individuals or local business at 100% profit for the organization. I think it would work, what about you?
Please see the attached picture of what would otherwise be in a landfill.
While you're at it - stop buying water bottles that have no five cent deposit! Refill them!
Regards,
Bob Langston
Comments:
|
I know I have to throw out alot of recylclables like plastic bags all the time. I would love to donate them to someone instead of throwing them away.
posted by john on 02/20/08 at 4:27 PM
|
|
I know that the library uses plastic bags for patrons that are carrying a heavy load or when it might be raining. Goodwill uses newspaper to wrap delicate items and always seem to be short.
posted by tamvalley on 02/20/08 at 4:42 PM
|
|
I regularly throw out lots of popcorn and bubble wrap that I'd be happy to give to anyone who needs it.
posted by gary regan on 02/20/08 at 6:02 PM
|
|
maybe we could sub categorize the classified for recyclables
posted by jcbike1 on 02/21/08 at 3:46 PM
|
Add a Comment:
Please signup or login to add a comment.
|
 |
|
|
|
