| Dear
EarthTalk: Everyone knows we should recycle
metal, glass and plastic cans and bottles, but what about
all the lids, tops and caps? I see people recycling plastic
bottles, for example, with their caps on, but I've always
been told to thrown them out. Is that wrong?
-- Stefanie Gandolfi, Oakland, CA
| |
Many
recycling centers do not accept plastic lids, tops
and caps. They are usually made of a different plastic
than the containers they accompanied and can contaminate
the recycling stream while also causing machine jams
and injuries to workers.
© GregPC, courtesy Flickr |
Many
municipal recycling programs throughout the U.S. still do
not accept plastic lids, tops and caps even though they
take the containers that accompany them. The reason is that
they are not typically made of the same kinds of plastics
as their containers and therefore should not be mixed together
with them.
“Just
about any plastic can be recycled,” says Signe Gilson,
Waste Diversion Manager for Seattle-based CleanScapes, one
of the west coast’s leading “green” solid
waste and recycling collectors, “but when two types
are mixed, one contaminates the other, reducing the value
of the material or requiring resources to separate them
before processing.”
Also,
plastic caps and lids can jam processing equipment at recycling
facilities, and the plastic containers with tops still on
them may not compact properly during the recycling process.
They can also present a safety risk for recycling workers.
“Most plastic bottles are baled for transport and
if they don’t crack when baled, the ones with tightly
fastened lids can explode when the temperature increases,”
says Gilson.
Some
recycling programs do accept plastic caps and lids, but
usually only if they are off their containers completely
and batched separately. Given the many potential issues,
however, most recyclers would rather avoid taking them altogether.
Thus it is hard to believe but true: In most locales the
responsible consumers are the ones who throw their plastic
caps and lids into the trash instead of the recycling bin.
As
for metal caps and lids, they, too, can jam processing machines,
but many municipalities accept them for recycling anyway
because they do not cause any batch contamination issues.
To deal with the potentially sharp lid of any can you are
recycling (such as a tuna, soup or pet food can), carefully
sink it down into the can, rinse it all clean, and put it
in your recycling bin.
Of
course, the best way to reduce all kinds of container and
cap recycling is to buy in large rather than single-serving
containers. Does the event you’re holding really require
dozens and dozens of 8- to 16-ounce soda and water bottles,
many of which will get left behind only partly consumed
anyway? Why not buy large soda bottles, provide pitchers
of (tap) water and let people pour into re-usable cups?
The
same kind of approach can be taken with many if not all
of the bottled and canned grocery items we buy routinely
for the home. If more people bought in bulk, apportioning
out of larger, fewer containers, we could take a huge bite
out of what goes into the waste stream.
CONTACT:
CleanScapes
Dear
EarthTalk: I am considering solar panels for
my roof to provide heat for my hot water and possibly to
do more than that. Are there some kinds of solar panels
that are better than others? How do I find a knowledgeable
installer?
-- Elise, Watertown, MA
| |
Some
17 states now offer homeowners tax rebates or incentives
for the purchase and/or installation of solar power
equipment, including rooftop solar collectors for
home heating or hot water.
© Rob Baxter, courtesy Flickr |
What type of
solar energy capture system you put on your home depends
on your needs. If you want to go full tilt and generate
usable electricity from your home’s rooftop—and
even possibly contribute power back to the larger grid—tried
and true photovoltaic arrays might be just the ticket. A
typical installation involves the panels, which are constructed
of many individual silicon-based photovoltaic cells and
their support structures, along with an inverter, electrical
conduit piping and AC/DC disconnect switches.
These systems
can cost tens of thousands of dollars to install, and as
such may not pencil out for those looking for the cheapest
power solution. But the upside is that homeowners with photovoltaic
panels on their rooftops can rest assured that as long as
the sun shines, they will have power to spare without generating
emissions of carbon dioxide and other noxious pollutants.
Qualified solar
installers can usually advise clients on which specific
types of systems will work best given the specific location
of a home. U.S. homeowners can find qualified photovoltaic
installers via the website FindSolar.com. And the North
American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
provides a free searchable database of its U.S. and Canadian
members specializing in home solar set-ups.
For less demanding
applications, such as for heating water for your home or
swimming pool, a much simpler (and less expensive) solar
thermal system might be all you need. A basic hot water
system usually consists of a solar collector—basically
a small metal box with a glass or plastic cover and a black
copper or aluminum absorber plate inside—tied into
the building’s plumbing and electrical works. According
to the industry tracker website Solarbuzz, such solar collectors
are usually mounted on rooftops.
Professional
installers can get your home up and running with a solar
thermal system for less than $4,000 in most cases. While
the savings in your electric bill may be small, homeowners
in it for the long haul will definitely save over time,
all the while enjoying the fact that you have lowered your
family’s carbon footprint significantly.
Homeowners looking
to find out more about residential solar systems should
be sure to check out the RealGoods Solar Living Sourcebook,
a 600+ page renewable energy “bible” now in
its 30th edition. The book features the latest nuts-and-bolts
information on how to harvest renewable energy in a variety
of ways depending on need. And RealGoods also sells much
if not all of the equipment needed.
Another reason
to consider going solar in one fashion or another is tax
incentives. According to the Database of State Incentives
for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), 17 states now offer
homeowners some kind of tax rebate or incentive for the
purchase and/or installation of solar power equipment of
any kind. You can see what if any your state offers by logging
onto the dsireusa.org website, where the searchable database
is available in its entirety for free.
CONTACTS:
Solarbuzz;
FindSolar.com;
NABCEP; RealGoods;
DSIRE. |
