Recycling for Michigan's Economy

According to the Michigan Recycling Coalition (MRC), in 1999 the state had a municipal solid waste rate of 20%. The MRC estimates that the recycling activities from that 20% generated almost $2 million in revenues. More importantly, it resulted in 5,687 jobs.

Imagine how many jobs would be created if that percentage were higher. In an economy as unstable as Michigan's, recycling is a win-win situation. Not only is it good for our environment, but it's good for our people too.

Recycling isn't just about saving energy. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that making a ton of paper from recycled stock saves up to 17 trees and uses 50% less water.

Roy E. Cordato, Vice President for Research at the John Locke Foundation, claims that recycling paper causes fewer trees to be planted because 87% used are planted for that purpose. Cordato says, "For every 13 trees 'saved' by recycling, 87 will never get planted."

But how long does it take for a tree to mature to then be cut down? And what about the other 13% of trees used for paper that were not planted for paper? Are they planting 87 trees for every 100 they cut down?

Fewer trees are planted when we recycle paper, but fewer trees are cut down too. Recycling preserves the environment and the animals that live there.

The EIA also reports that recycling aluminum creates 95% less air and water pollution than using raw product. And Michigan is one of the few states with a cash incentive to recycle aluminum beverage cans. There is little reason not to recycle.

The incentive program is not without problems. David Eggert, of the Chicago Tribune, reports that the State of Michigan estimates a loss of $10 million yearly due to recycling fraud.

Beverage cans from other states are being trucked over and illegally returned for the deposit. The State takes a hit paying out on cans that they didn't collect on in the first place. The State is looking at ways to mark cans to prevent recycling fraud.

Problems aside, the program does work. Eggert reports that Michigan's beverage container recycling rate is 97%. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality reports that in 2006, $415.8 million deposits were collected and only $399.5 million were paid out. That left the state with $16.3 million to use for environmental causes.

Charles Roltsch of Capital News Service, reports that Michigan has the "nation's best bottle and can recycling rates."

Bottlebill.org agrees with that statement. They also report an increase of 4648 jobs in Michigan due to the passing of the Bottle Bill. If people recycle more, more jobs will be created to handle the material.

Michigan has great recycling rates for beverage containers, but not for cardboard, paper and plastic, according to Roltsch. He reports the state "has one of the worst recycling rates in the country."

While recycling has increased jobs in the past, it may not in the near future. Tim Horton told Jeff Kart of the Bay City Times that, "these days, it would be cheaper to buy some paper, metals and plastic than process and sell them to recyclers."

Recycling may be able to stimulate the economy in Michigan, but not if the demand for recyclable materials keeps decreasing.

Kart reported the price for paper has dropped up to $90 per ton. Metal has dropped $100 per ton.

If prices don't increase soon, recyclable products are going to start filling our landfills. And according to Chris Carlson of Waste Age magazine, Michigan landfills will reach capacity in 22 years.

If we quit recycling, that time will come a lot sooner.

Resources

Carlson, Chris. (2008, March). Now Entering Michigan. Waste Age, 39.3 Retrieved November 24, 2008, from General Reference Center Golddatabase .

Container Recycling Institute. (2007). Bottle Bills Promote Recycling and Reduce Waste. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from Bottle Bill Resource Guide

Web site: http://bottlebill.org/about/benefits/waste.htm

Cordato, Roy E. (2007). Recycling paper kills trees. In Mitchell Young, ed. , Garbage and Recycling (p. 97). Thomson Gale.

Eggert, David. (2008, October 26). Fraud a problem for 11 states with bottle deposits. Retrieved November 17, 2008, from Chicago Tribune archives

Web site: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/oct/26/science/chi-ap-mi-canscams

Energy Information Administration. (2006). What is recycling? Retrieved November 9, 2008, from Solid Waste Recycling. Web site: http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/recycling/solidwaste/recycling.html

Kart, Jeff. (2008, November 24). It's not easy being green. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from The Bay City Times. Website: http://blog.mlive.com/watershedwatch/environmental_news/

Michigan Recycling Coalition. Projects: Michigan Recycling Measurement Study. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from Michigan Recycling Coalition

Web site: http://www.michiganrecycles.org/a_projects_measure.shtml

Roltsch, Charles. (2008, November 7). Bottle-deposit fraud target of new bills. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from The Bay City Times. Website: http://blog.mlive.com/cns/2008/11/bottledeposit_fraud_target_of.html

Waste and Hazardous Materials Division. (2007). Michigan Deposit Bottle Laws: Frequently Asked Questions, Retrieved November 10, 2008, from Michigan Department of Environmental Equality. Website: http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-wmd-swp-mibottledepositlawFAQ1.pdf