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What does Panda do with recyclables?

  • 11-05-2010 02:53PM
    #1
    dynamick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 718 ✭✭✭


    Panda waste collects my recyclables in a green bin. They accept paper, all types of plastic and all colours of glass in the same bin. Surely some of these plastics are not recyclable. And I thought glass had to be colour separated for recycling.

    It makes me suspect it is all going on a ship to china to be thrown on a heap. Does anyone know what the story is?


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Comments

  • #2
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    dynamick wrote: »
    Panda waste collects my recyclables in a green bin. They accept paper, all types of plastic and all colours of glass in the same bin. Surely some of these plastics are not recyclable. And I thought glass had to be colour separated for recycling.

    It makes me suspect it is all going on a ship to china to be thrown on a heap. Does anyone know what the story is?
    That would be a question for Panda. However, given that Green Bin collections are not charged 'per lift', shipping all your recyclables off to China for landfilling doesn't seem to me like a terribly sound business model.


  • #3
    jacaranda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 215 ✭✭jacaranda


    dynamick wrote: »
    Panda waste collects my recyclables in a green bin. They accept paper, all types of plastic and all colours of glass in the same bin. Surely some of these plastics are not recyclable. And I thought glass had to be colour separated for recycling.

    It makes me suspect it is all going on a ship to china to be thrown on a heap. Does anyone know what the story is?

    I've watched our garbage men take away our garbage, and our green bins and non green bins all get chucked into the back of a big truck, which then has a big compacte which compacts is all together into the back of the truck.

    I asked what are called the operatives where it all goes and they say it all goes into landfill.


  • #4
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    jacaranda wrote: »
    I asked what are called the operatives where it all goes and they say it all goes into landfill.
    And the waste management company have confirmed this? Have you raised the issue with your local authority or management company?


  • #5
    Thoushaltnot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 582 ✭✭✭Thoushaltnot


    Yeah, I'm surprised. I though putting glass in with other recyclables was a big no-no. Glass would shatter and the shards would get everywhere, including pulp paper (you won't want a nasty surprise when you wipe with recycled bog roll).

    Are you sure it was glass that had to be seperated by colour? People near me have to separate their plastics by colour - I think clear is fine but black/blue pallet wrap is not.


  • #6
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    Thoushaltnot wrote: »
    Yeah, I'm surprised. I though putting glass in with other recyclables was a big no-no. Glass would shatter and the shards would get everywhere...
    Glass can be relatively easily separated from other recyclables by weight (in an automated sorting facility, that is).
    Thoushaltnot wrote: »
    Are you sure it was glass that had to be seperated by colour?
    There used to be separate glass banks in my building for different colour glass, but now we have just the one. Perhaps it's cheaper to sort it at the collection centre.


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  • #7
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    djpbarry wrote: »
    Glass can be relatively easily separated from other recyclables by weight (in an automated sorting facility, that is).
    There used to be separate glass banks in my building for different colour glass, but now we have just the one. Perhaps it's cheaper to sort it at the collection centre.

    From my experience (dealing with the glass recycling industry some years ago) if the glass is mixed up there's only one place it's going - a hole in the ground! They are/were absolutely insistent on careful colour sorting when I was involved but maybe that has all changed but I doubt it.


  • #8
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    Judgement Day wrote: »
    From my experience (dealing with the glass recycling industry some years ago) if the glass is mixed up there's only one place it's going - a hole in the ground! They are/were absolutely insistent on careful colour sorting when I was involved but maybe that has all changed but I doubt it.
    As far as I am aware, glass is sorted by hand and will continue to be for the foreseeable future (although machine vision could probably be used to separate different colours automatically). I'm guessing recycling facilities have decided that people are not terribly good at separating their waste properly (plenty of evidence of this in my building) and have taken it upon themselves to manage this aspect of the operation.


  • #9
    dynamick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 718 ✭✭✭dynamick


    In general, how does a consumer check that his waste company is correctly handling his waste? If I pay a man with a van to take my waste away for cheap and he fly tips it all in a field, I imagine I am in trouble. Is there a government body like the EPA that licences waste firms and ensures that they are correctly disposing of rubbish?


  • #10
    dudara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    djpbarry wrote: »
    I'm guessing recycling facilities have decided that people are not terribly good at separating their waste properly (plenty of evidence of this in my building) and have taken it upon themselves to manage this aspect of the operation.

    I'd say that this a major factor. In my experience, most people cannot grasp the concept of what should go into each recycling bin. So I'd say companies were doing an awful lot of resorting anyway.


  • #11
    zg3409
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,148 ✭✭✭zg3409


    Mixed colour glass is exported from Wicklow harbour for use on roads in the UK. From my understanding we create more waste glass in Ireland then we have a need to re-cycle and re-use. So instead they use it in the sub layers of road construction. Greenstar have a seperate bin for glass only (blue in colour) but you can put in any colour glass. Most recycling centres still ask people to sort colours so I assume the sorted type are re-made into glass.

    Regarding what can and cannot be recycled most recycling centres have a detailed list of what they would like. I think recycling companies then first sort by hand and dump any types of plastic that arn't suitable etc.

    I am sure a large percentage of recyclables end up dumped such as pizza delivery carboard boxes which have touch food and they dont take wet cardboard for some reason.

    http://www.wicklow.ie/Apps/WicklowBeta/Environment/Waste/RecyclingCentres.aspx

    From the webiste:
    'Clean' Materials accepted FREE OF CHARGE:
    Cardboard, Plastic Bottles And Plastic Wrapping, Glass Packaging, Drink Cans, Steel Packaging, Milk and Drink Cartons (tetrapaks), Newspapers And Magazines, Office Papers, Batteries (Incl. Car Batteries), Used Electrical Goods, Fluorescent Tubes And Light Bulbs, Clothing And Textiles, Books, Stamps, Old Cds, Old Phones, Phone Books, Greeting Cards, Diaries, Calendars, Wrapping Paper, old spectacle frames. White polystyrene packaging is accepted at Arklow, Bray and The Murrough.

    Naturally wheelie bins dont take light bulbs etc.


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  • #12
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    dynamick wrote: »
    In general, how does a consumer check that his waste company is correctly handling his waste?
    I'm not sure what the procedure is, but I would say a good starting point would be contacting the company in question - they may even invite you to take a look at their facility if you're really that interested. If after that you're not satisfied, I would suggest contacting the Environmental Protection Agency, as they are responsbile for the enforcement of 'environmental legislation'.


  • #13
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 95,466 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    zg3409 wrote: »
    Mixed colour glass is exported from Wicklow harbour for use on roads in the UK. From my understanding we create more waste glass in Ireland then we have a need to re-cycle and re-use.
    Both ourselves and the UK import a lot of green bottle, usually wine and there is very little reuse. hence the use in roads. Does any large volume of glass get manufactured in Ireland ?


  • #14
    PeteHeat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 648 ✭✭✭PeteHeat


    I think the glass bottle factory (now a big building site) used to recycle the glass, AFAIK the Quinn factory is the only real glass recycling plant in Ireland.

    All companies removing waste must be licenced they don't have to own a facility but must have access to one, they should have their licence number clearly displayed on advertising etc.

    I know they can be checked online just not sure which web site.


  • #15
    Poochie05
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,378 ✭✭✭Poochie05


    Companies collecting waste must have a waste collection permit from the local authority in whose area they are collecting, so you should check with the environment section of your county council to enquire whether the company has a permit. The conditions of that permit will specify what they can or cannot do with that waste. Some councils have these permits available to view on their websites.


  • #16
    dunsandin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭dunsandin


    I really like the huge ejector trailer units heading into our local dump with "Caring for our environment" emblazoned on their sides. "Caring" in as much as? Landfilling neatly? A lot of the recycling industry as well as the waste industry seems to rely on a fair degree of spin.


  • #17
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    dunsandin wrote: »
    I really like the huge ejector trailer units heading into our local dump with "Caring for our environment" emblazoned on their sides. "Caring" in as much as? Landfilling neatly? A lot of the recycling industry as well as the waste industry seems to rely on a fair degree of spin.
    Perhaps if people did not produce so much waste, there would not be so much waste going into landfill?


  • #18
    jacaranda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 215 ✭✭jacaranda


    djpbarry wrote: »
    Perhaps if people did not produce so much waste, there would not be so much waste going into landfill?

    And if my aunt was a man then she'd be my uncle...lets try to deal with the world as it is and not as we might like it to be.


  • #19
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    jacaranda wrote: »
    And if my aunt was a man then she'd be my uncle...lets try to deal with the world as it is and not as we might like it to be.
    Eh? dunsandin stated disapprovingly that he/she has witnessed waste going to landfill. I made the point that it is currently a necessary evil, but the amount of waste going to landfill could be reduced. What point were you trying to make?


  • #20
    dunsandin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭dunsandin


    Dunsandin actually was stating that an awful lot of what should/could/is meant to be, recycled, aint.


  • #21
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    dunsandin wrote: »
    Dunsandin actually was stating that an awful lot of what should/could/is meant to be, recycled, aint.
    I'm not disagreeing with that. The question is, what do we do about it?


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  • #22
    dunsandin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭dunsandin


    Stop allowing companies to describe themselves as "So and So Recycling Ltd" when they dont. Stop allowing companies(however closely related to the state) to describe themselves as "caring for our environment" when they dont. And, crazily enough, invest in and encourage companies who actually do "recycle" material, not just those who accept material "for recycling" which really means stockpiling/reshipping to third parties/landfilling and baling. By western European standards, we fall badly short on our commitment to recycling, and are apparently facing hefty fines as a state as a result. Money better spent on actual recycling measures.


  • #23
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    dunsandin wrote: »
    Stop allowing companies to describe themselves as "So and So Recycling Ltd" when they dont. Stop allowing companies(however closely related to the state) to describe themselves as "caring for our environment" when they dont. And, crazily enough, invest in and encourage companies who actually do "recycle" material, not just those who accept material "for recycling" which really means stockpiling/reshipping to third parties/landfilling and baling.
    There seems to be a growing trend on this forum to assume, without any supporting evidence, that waste management firms are landfilling large quantities of recyclable materials.
    dunsandin wrote: »
    By western European standards, we fall badly short on our commitment to recycling...
    Are we? According to the EPA’s most recent National Waste Report, most EU recycling targets are being met or surpassed. Where we’re no doing so good is reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, due to increase in total municipal waste produced.


  • #24
    dunsandin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭dunsandin


    Sorry, but the EPA's national waste report is to me as reliable as that of the OECD saying we have turned a corner.
    European Prosecution Avoidance agency anybody? Just to fire a well documented and public one at you, how do we fare for recycling tyres? Thats just one plain, well publicised example, and before you attempt to dredge the depths for statistics to refute me, don't bother. I have my view, informed by daily work in the commercial sector, and I dont care what (lies, damn lies and) statistics are issued forth. But all due respect and all that.:)


  • #25
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    dunsandin wrote: »
    Sorry, but the EPA's national waste report is to me as reliable as that of the OECD saying we have turned a corner.
    European Prosecution Avoidance agency anybody? Just to fire a well documented and public one at you, how do we fare for recycling tyres? Thats just one plain, well publicised example, and before you attempt to dredge the depths for statistics to refute me, don't bother. I have my view, informed by daily work in the commercial sector, and I dont care what (lies, damn lies and) statistics are issued forth. But all due respect and all that.:)

    There were quite a few posts on the Politics Forum after the Prime Time programme on tyre 'recycling' which I suggested should be moved to this forum where it might have got a bigger audience.

    boards.ie > Soc > Politics
    Shocking Prime Time episode on tyre dumping.
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055914465&highlight=prime+time+tyres


  • #26
    dunsandin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭dunsandin


    I think the way we "recycle" tyres is a lot like the way we recycle appliances, plastics and timber. Not so hot. This is a personal bugbear of mine, and I consider it to be a scandalous waste of the earths rescources, as well as environmentally disasterous.


  • #27
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    I think your point about 'So and So Recycling Ltd' is so true - it gives an illusion that we care about the environment. Like years ago when we had a Minister for the Environment but all he did was oversee the dishing out planning permissions, and all sorts of other issues with nothing do with environmental concerns but the illusion was there. Today we have the Environmental Protection Agency which is basically an agency which hands out permits to companies to pollute the environment to statutory levels. The Heritage Council another quango which is more concerned with preserving itself than anything else. Joe Public who is not in the loop naturally enough assumes that the environment is being looked after. :mad:


  • #28
    dunsandin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭dunsandin


    Regarding the Prime Time episode on tyres, I found it telling that the small fry lad who was not eloquent and ran when confronted will have recieved far more approbrium than the slicker types who referred to "issues arising outside of the original business plan", ie who could spin their situation better, and grasp onto that great Irish phrase that forgives all- "mistakes have been made, but we will endeavour to do better in the future". That is a pure spun crock, but it is a phrase used to abdicate responcibility for all sorts of misdemeanours, great and small. "We will have to do better going forward". Well thats ok then,all is forgiven, lets all move forward together in a spirit of bullsh1t, doing the same old thing.


  • #29
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    dunsandin wrote: »
    Sorry, but the EPA's national waste report is to me as reliable as that of the OECD saying we have turned a corner.
    Sorry, but the EPA's National Waste Report is to me far more reliable than the word of an anonymous poster on an internet forum.


  • #30
    dunsandin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 879 ✭✭✭dunsandin


    Wonderful.


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  • #31
    jacaranda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 215 ✭✭jacaranda


    dunsandin wrote: »
    I think the way we "recycle" tyres is a lot like the way we recycle appliances, plastics and timber. Not so hot. This is a personal bugbear of mine, and I consider it to be a scandalous waste of the earths rescources, as well as environmentally disasterous.

    Companies who landfill generally do have the word "RECYCLE" emblazoned on the side of their trucks. the word has been so devalued now as to be almost meaningless.


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