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