Plastics
- There is no plan for plastic recycling on campus. A better plan is to encourage the use of sustainable beverage containers instead.
- Only 5-10 % of all plastic produced is actually recycled.
- It is cheaper for bottling companies to make new bottles from virgin petroleum than it is to recycle them.
- Major bottling companies are not incorporating post consumer, recycled plastic into new bottles at the rate that they have promised.
- Ideally, the producers of the bottles should be responsible for the products that they are making in such vast numbers.
- Because there is no real market for plastic, the value of plastic is only 3-7 cents a pound while aluminum's value can be 25-80 cents a pound.
- Post Katrina, the closest market for buying plastic is in Baton Rouge.
- 90-95% of plastic ends up in landfills, the ocean or waterways.
- It is not biodegradable and entangles animals or is eaten by wildlife, causing digestive blockages and starvation.
Other options are:
- Continue to throw away the disposable plastic generated.
- Reduce overall plastic use by pre-cycling (buying items with the lowest environmental impact).
- Return to aluminum can vending machines.
- Install water vending machines that dispense water into reusable bottles or mugs.
- Use individual Pur or Brita filtration pitchers with reusable bottles or mugs.
Shown below is a chart comparing the weight, volume and market value of aluminum, PETE plastic, and HDPE plastic. Source of market values is www.recycle.net
|
Crushed |
Crushed |
Crushed |
Weight |
One pound |
One pound |
One pound |
Approximate landfill volume |
0.3 cubic feet |
0.6 cubic feet |
1.0 cubic foot |
Market value |
$0.25-$0.80/pound |
$0.04-$0.07/pound |
$0.03-$0.05/pound |
Recycling cost to Loyola |
Free. All Scrap Metal would pick up, sort and weigh the aluminum. Payment given for the value of the aluminum. |
Phoenix Recycling would charge us $20 for each 96 gallon container of plastic that is picked up. No payment given for the value of the plastic. |
Phoenix Recycling would charge us $20 for each 96 gallon container of plastic that is picked up. No payment given for the value of the plastic |
Feel free to ask any questions at recycle@loyno.edu.
