SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The Randolph County Solid Waste Authority noted that the Tygart Valley Recycling Center in Elkins, West Virginia has stopped accepting plastic for recycling.
Clark Martin, chairman, Randolph County Solid Waste Authority said that he is disappointed that plastics will not be accepted. However, he noted that it is not just a local phenomenon, but a recent trend across the country. The plastics, numbered 3 to 7 are not accepted at all. The only accepted plastic are #1 and #2 plastics, due to their ease of processing. Even these could not be accepted in future, as there is demand for the recycled materials among processors. The export demand too has dropped significantly.
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According to Martin, a report published in May last year through Green Peace had noted that the amount of plastic waste turned into new things has dropped to 5%. However, these numbers have further slipped to almost zero now, he said.
The proceeds from the sale of recyclable plastic products are not even sufficient to cover the production expenses and transportation cost incurred by the recycling centres. The decision by the Chinese authorities to stop accepting all recyclables from the U.S. too has led to piling up of unprocessed plastic waste.
