Letter to the Editor - Recycle Hi-Line can no longer take plastic

Editor,

Recycle Hi-Line is sad to announce that we are no longer able to take any plastics. The global market does not support recycling plastic and too much plastic is contaminated, making it unrecyclable.

Here’s the basic problem: All used plastic can be turned into new things, but picking it up, sorting it out and melting it down is expensive. One report states, “A degradation of resin properties and performance occurs during the initial fabrication, through aging, and in any reclamation process,” meaning it can’t be reused more than once or twice. On the other hand, new plastic is cheap. It’s made from oil and gas, and it’s almost always less expensive and of better quality to just start fresh. Another addition to the cost is there are too many different kinds of plastic, hundreds of them, and they can’t be melted down together. They have to be sorted out.

It is our hope that as time goes on, cheaper and more efficient ways to utilize recycled plastic will be discovered. In the meantime, do your part with turning away from single use plastic. The first thing that comes to mind is bottled water. It’s simple and much cheaper to utilize a reusable water bottle. Refuse plastic straws, choose items with reduced-plastic or cardboard packaging, bring your own bags when shopping. Encourage your favorite restaurants to use eco-friendly plant-based, cardboard, paper, or aluminum to-go boxes. Be creative: think shampoo bars, switch to wood or bamboo toothbrushes and combs, use silicone zip-top bags for leftovers and lunches on the go!

Each of us can do our part to decrease our plastic contribution to the landfill.

Sincerely,

Recycle Hi-Line Chair Wanda Meredith

Havre