IDEA: Recycling and Garbage management (2)

Hi,
  as outlined in my previous post on the subject, practical recycling is about generating value out of garbage. It all starts with sorting the recyclable items.  One of the first problems for sorting is the space it takes to keep the different stacks/buckets/tubs or bags for the individual items. The next problem is the collection of the already separated items.

 Here the management becomes logistical. In order to effectively recycle the items have to be collected or submittted in their respective most valuable bundeling - typically separated by base material. There are several options available to do so. The common option is the drop off point at the local collection site. However, there is usually no management and quality control and therefore the separation is not as good as it can be. Thus reducing the value of the recylables. For high value items, such as valuable metals (gold, platinum, silver..) the process of recycling becomes a sale and thus the separation is of excellent quality.

 The other option is a collection, such as the regular green bin collection or other recyclables. The timing and efficiency is such that there is no time to perform quality control. This is due to the indiscriminate nature of the recycling collections. Another aspect is the volume of individual groups of items per household. Together with the storage limitations of house holds it becomes unfeasible and unreliable for perfect separation. Hence a frequent collection is required.

  This provides a good opportunity for small business and local groups. For example the frequently milk delivery could be used to collect empty plastic bottles. As the delivery is already specialist to milk and deliverable products it may not be a stretch to think of a reverse collection of the empty bottles. Weight and volume should not be an issue. Quality of separation can be expected as high. There are similar options available, such as home deliveries. Some provider do collect empty delivery bags on return for recycling.

  Where is the business case here ? There is intrinsic value in sorted garbage (typicall £0~100 when measured in tons). Given that the garbage collection of these items are not cheap either there may be a business case if the local government can manage more granular collection mechanism.