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We need a Sacramento Sword by Jeff vonKaenel
je ffv @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m
People at the convention were trying to figure California has a lot of trash—roughly 2,200 out the answer. pounds per person per year. And with 40 While there was some discussion about million people, that’s more than 80 million tons of food, plastic, paper and other waste that which other countries might take our trash, the bigger and often emotional discussion was needs to be recycled or disposed of every year. about how we as Americans, and especially Last week, at the 43rd annual California as recyclers, participated in an international Resource Recovery Association convention in program that has been so damaging to the Palm Springs, I spent three days talking trash environment, especially the oceans. Much of with 600 waste haulers, recyclers, CalRecycle the waste in China that was dumped into rivers officials and local government folks whose job it is to manage all of our garbage. This conven- eventually made its way to the ocean. The photos of China’s plastic recycling sites tion was part popular mechanics and were shocking. part religious revival. So, what now? There are a lot of operational Peter Slote, supervisor things required to move Just as China of the city of Oakland’s this waste, which includes said “no” to our Solid Waste/Recycling tiny plastic containers but trash with their China Program, says that what we also bigger items such are facing is an industrial as mattresses and fallen Sword decision, we need policy and packaging trees. And there’s a huge to tell manufacturers crisis. The problem is environmental impact to that times have what the manufacturers are this work. The trash people producing. If the manufacturdo not get the respect and changed. ers had to be responsible for appreciation they deserve, but the proper disposal of their prodthey know how important their ucts and its packaging, they would work is, and what would happen if most likely change what they produce. they were not around. We need an “American Sword.” Just as Last year, China decided, for all intents China said “no” to our trash with their China and purposes, to stop accepting our trash. Sword decision, we need to tell the manufacThis decision, commonly called China Sword, turers that times have changed. Certain nonwas a big focus at the convention. Previously recycleable products should just be banned. If about 40% of U.S. paper, plastics and other you are going to sell your product in America, recyclables were going to China, allegedly then you need to either make sure it is easily to be recycled. China was even paying us for recyclable, correctly recycle or dispose of it these materials. yourself or provide municipalities’ resources to The problem was that only about 25% of do it for you. the “recycling” sent to China was actually Certain efforts, such as Senate Bill 54 and recyclable, according to Mark Murray, head Assembly Bill 1080, which among other proviof Californians Against Waste. The rest sions, call for a phase-out of single-use plaswas either contaminated or trash and was tics, would be an important first step. Alameda discarded— burned, buried or thrown in the County has been a leader in similar efforts. river. Let’s implement a Sacramento County China Sword is an economic disaster for Sword. Ω any business or government agency that was previously being paid for the recycling they collected. Now they have to pay to dispose of Jeff vonKaenel is the president, CEO and majority owner of it. This is an 80 million ton question: What is the News & Review. California supposed to do with all this trash?