# Waste Resources **URL:** \ **Category:** Resources\ **Created:** [January 15, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55 "2020-01-15T20:28:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![syd](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/user_avatar/westcentralmnclimate.network/syd/32/19_2.png) [@syd](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/syd)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55/1 "2020-01-15T20:28:08Z")
As we plan for our waste meeting, I thought it might be helpful to share some waste resources. I have already found lots of information doing research for the invite email. **[Engebretson Disposal](https://engebretsondisposal.com)** - [Single Sort Recycling (SSR) Pamphlet](http://www.co.stevens.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/465) distributed in 2013 when Engebretson’s started SSR **[Pope Douglas Solid Waste](http://popedouglasrecycle.com)** - [Pope/Douglas CAP Grant Proposal Presentation](http://popedouglasrecycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2020-CAP-Grant-Presentation-Short-Version-10282019.pdf) **[City of Morris](https://ci.morris.mn.us/home.php)** - [Recycling and waste disposal for the City of Morris.](https://www.morrismn.info/waste.htm) ---
**Author:** ![EmilyB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/user_avatar/westcentralmnclimate.network/emilyb/32/26_2.png) [@EmilyB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/EmilyB)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55/2 "2020-01-16T16:53:05Z")
Thanks, Syd! I actually didn’t know this, from the Engebretson link you shared: > Do you have extra recycling? > > If you have extra recycling, you may use the recycle drop box at any of the following locations: > > University of Minnesota horse barn > > City of Morris garage > > Engebretson & Sons Disposal Service, Inc. ---
**Author:** ![EdB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EdB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/EdB)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55/3 "2020-02-03T21:31:31Z")
It’s worth noting that Pope-Douglas Solid Waste has virtual tours (including short videos) of their recycling, incinerator, ash landfill, and other aspects of their operations on their website. ---
**Author:** ![EdB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EdB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/EdB)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55/4 "2020-02-03T22:15:23Z")
Recent scholarship (linked below) suggests that recycling in particular does not really displace the creation of “new” materials. This is unsurprising given that much of our consumption is of single use or disposable products, many of which are not easily recyclable (due to being composed of mixtures). For items (e.g. many plastics) that are recyclable, it is often difficult to recycle them into similar products. Keith Brugger sent me this article a while back but I thought this group might be interested: [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327073644\_Material\_Recycling\_and\_the\_Myth\_of\_Landfill\_Diversion](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327073644_Material_Recycling_and_the_Myth_of_Landfill_Diversion) ---
**Author:** ![EdB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EdB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/EdB)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55/5 "2020-02-03T22:22:30Z")
I’ll cease commenting for a while after this, but if it makes any of us feel better about recycling in the U.S. heading to the landfill, the intrepid journalists at Journeyman Pictures uncovered serious issues with Sweden’s recycling program, namely that most of the plastic packaging that is recycled ends up being incinerated. > **[To burn or not to burn: Can Australia learn from Sweden's rubbish-to-energy...](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/how-would-burning-rubbish-like-sweden-work-in-australia/10115694)** > > Sweden has become the darling of the press when it comes to waste management. Foreign Correspondent investigates whether its strategies will work for Australia. ---
**Author:** ![syd](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/user_avatar/westcentralmnclimate.network/syd/32/19_2.png) [@syd](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/syd)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 10:38pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55/6 "2020-02-03T22:38:22Z")
Ed, I appreciate all of your info about this! Keep commenting! I enjoy reading about how the real change that is needed is production change. This feels harder to accomplish to me as a consumer. I also see how, with the right leaders & system change, production change has the most potential! The part that is hard for me, and I assume a lot of people, is how do we get from (1) blaming consumers for their waste to (2) understanding it is a production problem to (3) making change to the production system. I like what the abstract said: > …scholars and policy makers should focus on finding and implementing ways to increase the displacement potential of recyclable materials rather than focusing on disposal diversion targets… I also think that besides just scholars and policy makers, _businesses_ should have to focus on increasing displacement potential. ---
**Author:** ![EdB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EdB](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/EdB)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55/7 "2020-02-03T22:54:56Z")
Remember that little jingle from the Curious George movie (anyone in my class is now cringing, of course): Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? There’s a reason they are in that order (best-worst options for dealing with waste). But most of us currently like the last (worst) option the best. There’s a chance that the current policy (in China, Indonesia, and elsewhere) of rejecting plastics from the U.S. and Europe will prompt us to reexamine our habits. But we have to remember that single use plastic is a big business for certain sectors that deal in dinosaur blood. ---
**Author:** ![Alex](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Alex](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/Alex)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 9:26am UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/waste-resources/55/8 "2020-04-05T09:26:55Z")
There was an interesting article posted in the Star Tribune on December 15, 2019 about a company called UBQ that is turning trash into plastic ([https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/climate-solutions/israeli-startup-ubq-turning-trash-into-plastic-products/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/climate-solutions/israeli-startup-ubq-turning-trash-into-plastic-products/)). Has anyone heard of this before or know more about the company? It seems too good to be true. Although wouldn’t reduce our reliance on plastics, it offers a way to make trash into something useful instead of burying or burning it, and it would limit the use of oil for making new plastics.