Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2011)
2 • The Southwest Portland Post Dear EarthTalk: Why can’t plastics of all types, instead of being initially sorted, simply be melted together to be separated later? It must be a monumental and error-prone task to separate truckloads of plastics. -- L. Schand, via e-mail The reason plastics aren’t typically melted together and then separated later is a matter of both physics and economics. When any of the seven com- mon types of plastic resins are melted together, they tend to separate and then set in layers. The resulting blended plastic is struc- turally weak and difficult to manipu- late. While the layered plastic could in theory be melted again and separated into its constituent resins, the energy inputs required to do so would make such a process cost prohibitive. As a result, recycling facilities sort their plastics first and then melt them down only with other items made of the same type of resin. While this process is labor-intensive, the recycling numbers on the bottom of many plastic items make for quicker sorting. Many recy- cling operations are not only reducing sizable amounts of waste from going into landfills but are also profitable if managed correctly. Manufacturers of plastic items choose specific resins for different applications. EDITORIAL Recycling like items together means the reclaimed polymer can be used to create new items just like their virgin plastic forebears. The seven common types of plastic are: #1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE); #2 High-density polyethylene (HDPE); #3 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC); #4 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE); #5 Polypropylene (PP); #6 Polystyrene (PS); and #7 Other/Mixed (O). One complicating factor is trying to recycle unmarked plastics and those embossed with a #7 (representing mixed resins, also known as polycarbonate). According to Earth911, a leading online source for finding recyclers for specific types of items across the United States, in some cases #7 plastics can be “down- cycled” into non-renewable resin; in other cases recycling operations just send their unmarked and #7 plastics into local landfills. But even though recycling operations have developed relatively efficient sys- tems for generating reclaimed resins, many environmentalists recommend that consumers still avoid plastics as much as possible. “Simply recycling these products does not negate the environmental damage done when the resource is extracted or when the product is manufactured,” reports EcoCycle, a Colorado-based non-profit recycler with an international reputation as an innovator in resource conservation. The group adds that over the past half century, the use of disposable packag- ing—especially plastic—has increased by more than 10,000 percent. Along these lines, products (or pack- aging) made out of reusable metal, glass or even wood are preferable to equivalent items made from plastic. For starters, an item of metal, glass or (Continued on Page 7) Deeper Sedation Dentistry... Dr. Little at West Hills Family Dental Center now offers DEEP SEDATION DENTISTRY. It’s MORE EFFECTIVE than just a pill. September 2011 The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Fax: (866) 727-5336 email: news@multnomahpost.com Barbur Boulevard upgrades shouldn’t have to wait for bike sharing City Hall’s latest scheme is to purchase a bunch of bicycles while southwest Portland neighborhoods wait for services that we pay for but do not receive. Residential & Intermediate Alzheimer’s Care Its about what we can do, not what we can’t. Upgrades for Barbur Boulevard were promised but never imple- mented. Now they want to buy bicycles for OTHER PEOPLE! Our water bills are sky high and we in southwest Portland don’t even receive the services we pay for due to infrastructure that are not in place! It is time for southwest Portland residents to say “ENOUGH!” We want and deserve the services and infrastructure that are enjoyed by those on the eastside! We pay plenty for their services! Scrap the bike idea and start up- grading southwest Portland neigh- borhoods NOW. We taxpayers need to be heard. Bike sharing--baloney! Patti Waitman-Ingebretsen Multnomah well be … and well informed Bowman’s Hillsdale Pharmacy Call and find out why West Hills Family Dental Center is different. 6256 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-291-0000 • www.fearfreedental.com 503-244-7582 • email: hdrx@pcez.com •Walk-In Adult Immunizations •Experienced Compounding Pharmacists 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Phone: (503) 244-6933; Fax: (866) 727-5336 general email: news@multnomahpost.com web address: www.swportlandpost.com Editor & Publisher: Don Snedecor Reporters/Writers: Polina Olsen, Lee Perlman, and Stephanie Lodromanean Retail Advertising Manager: Harry Blythe Graphic Design: Leslie Baird Design Printing: Oregon Lithoprint © 2011 by The Southwest Portland Post. All rights reserved. The opinions of the artists and authors contained herein are not necessarily shared by the publisher. Deadline for news and advertising is generally the 20th of the month prior to publication. Please call for current deadline information. Advertising rates are available upon request. The Post has a circulation of 7,000 in Multnomah Village and the surrounding neighborhood business districts including Burlingame, Capitol Hill, Garden Home, Glen Cullen, Hillsdale, South Portland, Raleigh Hills, West Portland and Vermont Hills. The Post is published on or about the 1st of every month. Subscriptions are $14 per year. Back issues are $2.50 each when available. All major credit cards accepted. The Post is printed on recycled newsprint using soy-based inks. (503) 292-7874 6630 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy. Portland, Oregon 97225 www.marquiscompanies.com www.mygnp.com