Governor to Submit Recycling Legislation

Submitted legislation has to be passed and then the funding found to implement it. It sounds nice but there's really no point in highlighting it before actual moves follow words.

They are also going to ban plastic bags. Well, along with plastic bags, they need to ban styrofoam. I can't tell you how much styrofoam I pick off the beach every weekend!

Must have funding.
It would be nice to get recycling started.
It's going to take a massive education program, however.
Mapp can talk the talk but I've yet to see actions result from his words in a positive manner.

They need to do like they do in BVI grocery stores bring in your own bag or pay 25 cents for a plastic bag.

They need to do like they do in BVI grocery stores bring in your own bag or pay 25 cents for a plastic bag.

A system which the UK government quite recently implemented and which was quickly adopted by the BVI. In the last several years there are way more residents here using their own reusable bags than in the past and more are adopting the habit every day so things aren't stagnating where that's concerned.

The Schneider Hospital had that pay for a bag policy. They sold the best reusable bag I've ever seen. A tourist bought one from me they were that good.

Our local recycling is having trouble here in the states.

Most people recycle but the recycling centre is cutting back on collections. The falling price of oil is limiting the market for recycled plastics.

Companies are finding it cheaper to use "new" plastics.

As others have posted, I think that discouraging the use of plastics by the populous through education or $$ incentives may be more practical in such a small market.

They are also going to ban plastic bags. Well, along with plastic bags, they need to ban styrofoam. I can't tell you how much styrofoam I pick off the beach every weekend!

(tu)

(I'd add straws and plastic cups, water bottles...)

Ban all the things!

Many grocery stores in Europe have had a pay for bag or no bag policy for years. Then again these are the same folks that often charge extra for ketchup and mustard packets at the snack bar. We already have no bags, it's called Cost U Less:)

"Many grocery stores in Europe have had a pay for bag or no bag policy for years."

Not quite. The first country to implement such a charge was Bangladesh in 2002, followed by South Africa, Kenya and a couple of others before the system was implemented in Scotland and Wales in I recall 2011. UK 2014 along with Italy, recently Germany and now Mexico and California have followed suit. The whole plastic bag routine only came about over the last few decades so now we're turning the clock back!

No doubt Mr Mapp will eventually come up with a proposal to implement it here and claim it as his own brilliant innovation! What may be a stumbling block for this administration is that in at least the UK, the money collected does NOT go to the government but stays with the store whose owners are encouraged (but not mandated) to put it to good use for the benefit of the community.

Vermont has been recycling bottles and cans since the 70's.
You pay a deposit at the store you purchase items, return empties to store and recoup your deposits. It served as a way for school groups and others to collect bottles and cans thrown away as litter to raise funds and keep their environment clean.

Recycling has been the "norm" for decades in the majority of states and most of the rest of the word.

I drove by the new WMA facility in Mandahl the other day.
It looks pretty small to me and tucked into the hillside.
I have to wonder how well that is going to work if there are many people getting rid of garbage on any given day. It's right on the road with no parking designated that I could see.

I'd suggest that if anyone has items around that they've been thinking of getting rid of, best do your spring cleaning, now. It'll cost you later.
The price still to be decided upon.
http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2016/01/26/viwma-previews-waste-convenience-center-mandahl-meeting

I had to pay for plastic bags if desired at many small grocery stores in Germany at least 15 years ago. Larger stores typically would not charge extra. So doesn't seem like it was driven by any mandatory rules but rather the individual merchants. Been a few years since I've been there so don't know what they are doing most recently.

So doesn't seem like it was driven by any mandatory rules but rather the individual merchants. Been a few years since I've been there so don't know what they are doing most recently.

Exactly, It wasn't mandatory but now is:

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/climate-environment/german-checkouts-charge-plastic-bags-318817

My wife is from Ontario Canada and they have been doing this for sometime. The grocery stores charge for plastic bags and I see many customers bring their own. They also have to sort all of their garbage into 3 bins: paper/plastic, organics, regular garbage. They are also only allowed to put 1 bag of garbage out, or have to pay an extra bag fee. Since she came down here to live with me in the states I have become a recycler (not sure if that's a word) but I am definitely more aware of how I throw things out and also when I am at the store, if I can hold it in my hand or leave in the cart, I decline the traditional bag(s) from the store. I just tell myself I am saving the world one bag at a time. I really think the US should adopt what Canada is doing, they are definitely doing it right. Hopefully Mapp isn't all talk and he can make this work, but it will take time for people to acquire the mindset to do it.

I can see it now...
Director of Separation......$120,000 a year
Recycling Commissioner....$180,000 a year
Of course by Mapp's buddies: No that's funny i don;t care who you are!

Unfortunately, that scenario, stxsailor, is highly probable.

They are also going to ban plastic bags. Well, along with plastic bags, they need to ban styrofoam. I can't tell you how much styrofoam I pick off the beach every weekend!

Better outlaw baby diapers, and rum and Heineken bottles, too. Can't tell you how many of those I pick up each week. 😉

I will literally cry tears of joy if they ban plastic bags. Watched someone in STT before I left - take apart a 6 pack of beer and DOUBLE BAG EACH CAN INDIVIDUALLY. Then back into another bag they went. I mean uhhhh... what? There is absolutely NO need for plastic bags anymore. No need to charge for them, just get rid of them. I can guarantee 100% if there are no bags available everyone will be bringing their own reusable ones. So simple. Also the cost of the bags should help the local businesses a smidgen too.

I agree theres a lot of things that should banned but by far and large I pick up more plastic bags in the ocean and on the ground than anything else. Often wrapped around coral which breaks my heart. There was a turtle at Maho last year with bag wrapped tight around his front flipper. I managed to grab him and get it off of him. Saw him a couple times after that too. And no I don't condone grabbing sea turtles - its technically illegal. Plus they bite - hard! I was lucky he was super chill and let me get the bag off and then went back to eating in the shallows like it was no big deal. It was a great educational tool for my tourists that day.

The history of banning things is so filled with success stories.

Oh boy here we go again....

Sparty wont be happy until anything that bothers or inconveniences people is dead and the ocean is so acidic we have to wear respirators. :@) :@) :@)

Actually in many countries in Africa its highly successful. I don't remember seeing any when I was in SA and Cape...we used boxes from produce for our groceries. Hawaii just did last year and my friends that live there say its a great thing highly supported by the majority of the community. I will just chose not to be lazy - make a couple trips if need be and / or use fabric ones. Plaza gives them out when you buy over $100 and I am betting most people spend at least $100 at one time each month so seems simple solution. If we do the pay per bag program, I don't think that will work. It doesn't solve the problem. Just get rid of them all together all at once and let us deal with it.

Its not rocket science. The people will not implode if we ditch these we can adapt to a life without plastic grocery bags. "Sarcasm"

OH this reminds me I watched this show on a town thats is 0 waste... or pretty close.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eym10GGidQU

AMAZING. We have the knowledge and we have the ability!