Phil Bobel, Palo Alto's assistant director of Public Works, talks about the uncertainty facing the city's recycling operation since China has become unwilling to buy recycled items that are considered "contaminated." Palo Alto Weekly Editor Jocelyn Dong and Associate Linda Taaffe explore the impacts of the change and ways that cities are responding. Read the story here. Watch the webcast here or listen to the podcast version of the episode here.
Related content:
• City staff: Palo Alto needs residents to do better job of sorting, cleaning recyclables
• Guest Opinion: Recycling a 'good deed' that punishes southeast Asia
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Comments
Palo Alto Hills
on Apr 12, 2019 at 5:39 pm
on Apr 12, 2019 at 5:39 pm
China doesn't need to lower itself anymore by taking in U.S. recyclables. Its global steel and manufacturing output far exceeds what they would make recycling someone else's garbage.
As a result, this will now be farmed off to the poorer 3rd world/developing countries who need the revenue.
Barron Park
on Apr 13, 2019 at 2:36 pm
on Apr 13, 2019 at 2:36 pm
What a sad joke this recycling scam is. Put all the garbage in one can, deliver it to a gasification plant, which converts it to syngas and slag, with all organic toxins destroyed. Use the syngas to power generators that produce electricity (at a profit). No landfill necessary! Nothing to ship to China!