Cut plastic to save money and protect the environment

For a decade now, the metal, glass and plastic that New Yorkers place in the blue recycling bins at home to be picked up by the sanitation department have been transported by truck or barge to the private plant of Brooklyn, on the Sunset Park waterfront, operated by Sims under long-term contract with the city.

The facility is open for tours and it is a fascinating process to observe, with the only smell being a faint sweet smell. The automated facility sorts and separates waste by breaking glass, using magnets to extract ferrous metals and sorts different densities, compositions and colors of hard plastics (look at the bottom of a container to see the different designations) with lasers and precise sights. puffs of air. The recovered metal, glass and plastic are then sent to their next stop for reuse.

The primary waste from the Sims plant is bales of thin, filmy plastic, such as dry cleaner bags. It cannot be recycled and is destined for costly landfills to be buried forever. It’s bad for the city’s budget and the environment.

With the welcome citywide expansion of organics collection (brown bins) in addition to paper (green bins) and metal, glass and plastic (blue bins), the remaining black bags will be made non-recyclable items like the same thin plastics that Sims rejects. are used for packaging or bags. There is a bill in Albany to encourage manufacturers to limit their use of this plastic packaging material and it should pass.

Sponsored by majorities in both chambers (34 of 63 senators and 76 of 150 Assembly members), the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is expected to be approved before the end of the Legislature’s session on June 6.

Mayor Adams and the City Council don’t always agree, but they are united in supporting this bill and the Mayor’s Sanitation Commissioner, Jessie Tisch, pushed for its passage. The projected savings for his agency are $150 million. Maine, Oregon, Colorado and California have similar laws in place.

One of the arguments against the legislation is that it would be the end of slices of American cheese individually wrapped in plastic. Whether the orange squares are labeled “pasteurized prepared cheese product” or “pasteurized processed cheese product”, they can use a thin sheet of paper to separate the pieces, and unlike plastic packaging, this paper can be thrown into the brown bin collection of organic materials. .

The consumer does not suffer while the sanitation department sees a reduction in costs and prevents tons of waste from being trucked to distant landfills.

More than a half-century ago, in 1967’s “The Graduate,” opening scene guest Mr. McGuire brushes aside hero Ben Braddock.

McGuire: I just want to say a word. Only one word.

Ben: Yes, sir.

McGuire: Are you listening?

Ben: Yes, I am.

McGuire: plastics.

Ben: What do you mean exactly?

McGuire: Plastic has a big future. Think about it. Will you think about it?

Mr. McGuire was right; plastics are great, but not all plastics are the same. Pass this bill and let’s reduce some plastics we don’t need.