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Walt · 10-16-2010, 01:22 PM

Effective 10/1/10, North Carolina has enacted legislation making it illegal to dispose of rigid plastic containers, aluminum cans and glass bottles in landfills. In other words, you can’t just throw them in the trash. North Carolina now requires private citizens to separate these items from their trash, sort these items by material and recycle them. Failure to do so will result in a monetary fine (I’m not sure how much).

As far as I know, liquid foods are only realistically available in aluminum/glass/plastic containers. I realize that there is likely eco-friendly packaging made from rainbows and unicorn farts, but I have never seen it. In other words, I have no real choice but to purchase products made of aluminum/glass/plastic.

Having purchased said materials, I have no real choice as to how to dispose of them. I cannot burn my trash or I will be hit with a fine. I cannot bury it in my backyard or I will be hit with a fine. I can’t just dump it in the woods or on the side of the road or I will be hit with a fine. I cannot dispose of it in the county landfill or I will be hit with a fine. My options are either to stockpile my aluminum/plastic/glass and try to sell it myself, or I can sort it, throw it in my truck and drive it down to the county recycling station and make a donation to the state government.

I’m all for recycling. I have done it for years because it gives me a warm fuzzy and because I respect the program's origins. That being said, I don't like being told what to do. I really don't like being threatened (by way of monetary fines or otherwise). In fact, I am seriously pissed off. In essence; the state government is forcing me to provide it with pre-sorted valuable materials. The government then takes these materials and uses my tax money to process them. It then profits by selling these materials to private industries.

Is this unethical or am I overreacting? Where do the profits go? Who benefits from this? Exactly how much money is being made here?

10-16-2010, 01:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Walt I'm calmer than you are, dude Location: North Carolina	I have a problem with recycling Effective 10/1/10, North Carolina has enacted legislation making it illegal to dispose of rigid plastic containers, aluminum cans and glass bottles in landfills. In other words, you can’t just throw them in the trash. North Carolina now requires private citizens to separate these items from their trash, sort these items by material and recycle them. Failure to do so will result in a monetary fine (I’m not sure how much). As far as I know, liquid foods are only realistically available in aluminum/glass/plastic containers. I realize that there is likely eco-friendly packaging made from rainbows and unicorn farts, but I have never seen it. In other words, I have no real choice but to purchase products made of aluminum/glass/plastic. Having purchased said materials, I have no real choice as to how to dispose of them. I cannot burn my trash or I will be hit with a fine. I cannot bury it in my backyard or I will be hit with a fine. I can’t just dump it in the woods or on the side of the road or I will be hit with a fine. I cannot dispose of it in the county landfill or I will be hit with a fine. My options are either to stockpile my aluminum/plastic/glass and try to sell it myself, or I can sort it, throw it in my truck and drive it down to the county recycling station and make a donation to the state government. I’m all for recycling. I have done it for years because it gives me a warm fuzzy and because I respect the program's origins. That being said, I don't like being told what to do. I really don't like being threatened (by way of monetary fines or otherwise). In fact, I am seriously pissed off. In essence; the state government is forcing me to provide it with pre-sorted valuable materials. The government then takes these materials and uses my tax money to process them. It then profits by selling these materials to private industries. Is this unethical or am I overreacting? Where do the profits go? Who benefits from this? Exactly how much money is being made here? __________________ Calmer than you are... Last edited by Walt; 10-16-2010 at 01:25 PM..