Just toured their facility today, actually! All according to an environmental educator I spoke with there, they have a recycle success rate of 36%, which seems low from a standerby's POV. Compared to a lot of states, they are actually very efficient with the innovation they do have, especially as they accept from 75 Maine towns/cities as well as waste from other states as well. Their technology is German made. They separate different plastics, from hard plastics to softer plastics using Bühler PET plastic optical sorters. That part is sick to me, it's really amazing technology- I believe it's new as well. Finally it's hand sorted. They do what they can and sell bales of recycled waste (cardboard, aluminum, different plastics) to companies interested in reusing the material. As people have said, it's ultimately best to do what you can to reduce and reuse above all else. We just can't get rid of waste.
lukatuh t1_ixg05ge wrote
Reply to What is the truth about recycling in Maine? by jevamoka
Just toured their facility today, actually! All according to an environmental educator I spoke with there, they have a recycle success rate of 36%, which seems low from a standerby's POV. Compared to a lot of states, they are actually very efficient with the innovation they do have, especially as they accept from 75 Maine towns/cities as well as waste from other states as well. Their technology is German made. They separate different plastics, from hard plastics to softer plastics using Bühler PET plastic optical sorters. That part is sick to me, it's really amazing technology- I believe it's new as well. Finally it's hand sorted. They do what they can and sell bales of recycled waste (cardboard, aluminum, different plastics) to companies interested in reusing the material. As people have said, it's ultimately best to do what you can to reduce and reuse above all else. We just can't get rid of waste.