Stop recycling myths

The dorm recycling plan will always miss its potential because, in general, recycling is a waste of resources. Rather than applaud the 6,000 students who petitioned for the plan, they should be chastised for their ignorance.

Market prices provide a measure of resource scarcity and allow us a method for evaluating the efficient use of those resources. Studies have shown that recycling costs 35 percent more than simply hauling it to a landfill. Contrary to popular myth, Michigan and the rest of the country have plenty of landfill space. The landfill supply in Michigan is so great that our state legislators have been trying to impose large fees to artificially increase the price and reduce the amount of trash imports from Canada and other states.

While recycling may conserve some resources, it increases the use of others. My city’s curbside recycling program tripled the number of garbage trucks on the road – one for landfill trash; one for plastic, paper and tin; and one for yard waste. Three times the number of trucks spewing those dreaded hydrocarbons into the atmosphere just so my tofu-eating neighbor can pat himself on the back for being such a “responsible” global citizen.

The State News encourages students to pile their trash at the recycling stations to demonstrate to university officials “the demand for recycling facilities.” Unfortunately, this promotes a false demand. When industries demand recycled materials, the need for recycling facilities will increase. However until the cost of raw materials exceeds the cost of recycled materials, demand will only be generated by a handful of misguided environmentalists who like to feel good about themselves regardless of the facts.

Rather than spending $3.5 million on a recycling center, perhaps the university could roll it into the Department of Economics.

[Letter to the Editor - The State News. Published 01/22/2007.]