OF A LOW RAIN CHANCE AND
PLENTY OF HEAT, KRISTI?
>> THANKS A LOT, BETTY.
AS THE WORLD REALLY TRIES TO
ADDRESS THE GROWING PLASTIC
POLLUTION PROGRAM ON OUR
PLANET, HERE AT HOME BROWARD
COUNTY IS DEALING WITH A
GROWING RECYCLING MESS.
>> IT’S BECOME SO EXPENSIVE
THAT SOME CITIES HAVE DECIDED
NOT TO RENEW THEIR CONTRACTS
WITH RECYCLERS, LEADING COUNTY
LEADERS TO SCRAMBLE TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THAT
WASTE.
IT’S TONIGHT’S DON’T TRASH OUR TREASURE.
RECYCLING IN BROWARD IS IN
CRISIS.
THE COUNTY NOW UNDER THE GUN
TO FIX IT BEFORE IT COMPLETELY COLLAPSES.
>> IT IS HANGING ON BY A
THREAD, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> THEY’RE BEING CHARGED SO MUCH THAT MANY CITIES ARE
MUCH THAT MANY CITIES ARE RE-THINKING DOING
RE-THINKING DOING RECYCLING.
INCINERATION IS JUST A BAND
AID, BUT BETTER THAN PUTTING
ALL THAT GARBAGE IN THE
COUNTY’S TWO LANDFILLS THAT
ARE QUICKLY FILLING UP,
CREATING EVEN MORE GREENHOUSE
GASES.
IT’S A BIG PROBLEM THAT CITIES
CAN’T SOLVE ON THEIR OWN. >> WHICH IS WHY WE’RE THINKING
>> WHICH IS WHY WE’RE THINKING
OF TRYING TO BRING IN ALL THE
CITIES TOGETHER.
TO THEN CREATE RECYCLING
FACILITIES OURSELVES.
>> BROWARD GENERATED 40000.00
TONS OF GARBAGE.
THE COUNTY NOW STUDYING WHAT
IT WOULD COST BROWARD TO BUILD ITS OWN FACILITIES ON LAND
ITS OWN FACILITIES ON LAND
OWNED BY THE COUNTY IN WEST POMPANO ALREADY DESIGNED FOR
POMPANO ALREADY DESIGNED FOR
TRASH.
CATCHING SOME RESIDENTS OFF
GUARD. >> I DID NOT KNOW THAT, THAT’S
>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT, THAT’S
NEWS TO ME.
>> THEY DO HAVE THE LARGEST
RECYCLING FACILITY IN THE
SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
HERE IN THEIR BACKYARD.
WE BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT MORE
EFFICIENTLY AND FIND MARKETS.
>> BUT EVER SINCE CHINA AND
EAST ASIA STOPPED ACCEPTING
U.S. PLASTIC AND PAPER
RECYCLABLES IN 2018,
DISRUPTING THE NATION’S
RECYCLING MARKET, CITIES THAT
WERE USED TO GETTING A REBATE
NOW HAD TO PAY AND HAVE
WATCHED THEIR RECYCLING RATES
DOUBLE.
>> MOST WASTE GETS DISPOSED OF
AT $42 A TON.
FOR RECYCLING, THEY’RE
CHARGING OVER $100.
THERE’S A BIG GAP THERE.
>> MANY RESIDENTS DON’T KNOW
HOW TO RECYCLE.
CONTAMINATING LOADS WITH
THINGS THAT DON’T BELONG THERE
LIKE OLD CARPETS, VACUUM
HOSES, EVEN AN INFANT CAR
SEAT.
TRASH THAT ONLY DRIVES UP
PROCESSING COSTS AND REDUCES
REVENUE.
>> LOOK AT THIS.
THIS ILLUSTRATES THE PROBLEM
RIGHT HERE.
THIS WHOLE PILE IS RESIDENTIAL
RECYCLING.
LOOK AT ALL THE PLASTIC BAGS
AND WRAPPERS AND STYROFOAM AND
OTHER JUNK THAT SHOULDN’T BE
IN THERE.
>> OF THE 800 TONS OF
RECYCLABLES THAT COME IN PER
DAY, UP TO 35% IS ACTUALLY
GARBAGE.
>> IT’S A HUGE PROBLEM.
IT ADDS COST, DAMAGES
MACHINERY.
>> DESIRABLE HERES ARE CLEAN,
DRY, EMPTY CARDBOARD, PAPER,
BOTTLES AND CANS.
>> THEY’RE NOT RECYCLING
EVERYTHING.
THEY’RE PICKING AND CHOOSING.
I DON’T BLAME THEM.
>> THE THINGS THAT THEY CAN
MAKE A PROFIT OFF OF.
>> THE GOAL IS FOR BROWARD TO
RECYCLE 75% OF ITS WASTE IF
AND WHEN THE COUNTY TAKES
OVER.
>> EVEN WITH GOOD RECYCLE,
YOU’RE ONLY RECYCLING 9-10% OF
THE PLASTIC.
WE FIGURED THAT WE COULD
PROBABLY RECYCLE MAYBE 3
MILLION TONS IF IT’S DONE
RIGHT.
>> 3 MILLION TONS IF IT’S DONE
RIGHT.
WITH MANY CITY’S CONTRACTS
EXPIRING OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS, THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
HE HOPES TO HAVE A COALITION
FORM ED
FORMED.
IN THE MEANTIME, RECYCLING