GRN Recycle Talk FAQ
Answer
From: Fred Friedman (FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV)
Date: Thu Apr 16 1998 - 04:12:00 EDT 

Date: Thu, 16 Apr 98 09:12 WET DST
From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman)
Subject: Re: Is Everything Recyclable?

April 16, 1998

Is everything recyclable?

No.

What is not recyclable?

Anything for which there is no market. Mixtures of plastics for which no cost-effective market exists. Mixtures of plastics and wood for which no cost-effective, technical, nor practical market exists. Mixtures of low level, low grade materials for which no market exists. Batteries of all types are not recyclable in Argentina because no market exists to recycle them, yet. Fluorescent light bulbs are not recyclable in Chandler, Arizona since no cost effective recycler is situated within a cost-effective transport distance.

Now, theoretically, is everything recyclable?

At a theoretical, thermodynamics lesson, yes. At a theoretical, molecular level, yes. Know anyone buying molecules of paper?

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