Are the aluminum and plastic container systems more or less damaging than the old glass recyling system?
I remember the old glass milk bottles, and once visited a Pepsi plant where returned bottles were washed. There seem to be many factors: convenience, health, transportation costs, recycling and remanufacturing costs as well as aesthetics. Has this question been studied in all its aspects?
FollowTheLeader
on February 8th, 2012
Again science teacher can only give a part answer. In a way your question has validity, however the glass bottle reuse system killed itself when Coke was sued for a mouse in one of their reused bottles, so the US has gone to melting down glass; ironically melting glass is still 95% more efficient then making glass from virgin material. The same 95% is also true for aluminum. Plastic recycling is a lot more complicated then its inability to be reused for food stuff. Also there is more money trading hands in aluminum and plastic recycling then glass and paper, which are still very cheap (not worth collecting).
Bambi
on February 8th, 2012
Aluminum containers made from recycled aluminum is cheaper than mining the new aluminum. That is a good reason for recycling. Plastic can be recycled but not made into containers that touch food.
RollingSands
on February 8th, 2012
http://www.tufts.edu/tuftsrecycles/USsta...
http://www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/...