🚀 go-pugleaf

Paul J. Berg <pjberg@webtv.net> wrote:

> January 1, 2009 will be a big day for Oregonians who care about recycling.
> That's the day that consumers will be required to plunk down a nickel
> deposit on every bottle of water they buy. It's also the day that Oregon
> will officially have a statewide system for free and convenient recycling
> of old televisions and computers.
> 
> Both are the result of two bills Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed into law
> Thursday morning.
> 
> Senate Bill 707 is the first update of Oregon's Bottle Bill law in 36
> years. Though advocates had hoped earlier in the session to see all
> beverage containers require a nickel deposit, powerful industry interests
> fought to add just bottled water to the list of carbonated soft drink and
> beer containers requiring a redeemable deposit.
> 
> Quoting Republican President Ronald Reagan (and getting some laughs for
> it), Democrat Kulongoski said: "Compromise is not a dirty word....We can
> do more in future sessions."
> 
> With House Bill 2626, Oregon joins a handful of states with laws requiring
> the recycling and/or proper disposal of televisions, computers and
> computer monitors. Oregon currently recycles about 15 to 20 percent of the
> electronic products --or so-called "e-waste."

...and the remaining 80-85% goes to....

...China, probably. Or maybe Texas or one of the other states that will
accept this toxic waste.

Seattle is talking about banning plastic grocery bags and foam
containers. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19085884/> San Fransisco did
the same thing not long ago.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/27/AR20070
32702250.html>

See also:

'Polymers Are Forever',
<http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/270>

'Cradle to Cradle' <http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm>

-- 
http://www.xoverboard.com/cartoons/2007/070416_argument.html