Cutting edge Calif. is behind the times in recycling. It’s time to embrace a new approach

Written By: Clint Oliver, Chief Executive Officer with the Business Federation of the Central Valley Commission  

In the early 20th Century, the invention of plastics revolutionized modern life, spawned entirely unheard of businesses, and expanded access to affordable goods for millions of Americans. From an item as simple as a comb to more sophisticated products like camera film and automobiles, plastics technology evolved quickly into the building blocks of the essential, everyday products that help us all live easier and more productive lives.

However, as plastics uses have become more varied, it’s important to remember we have a responsibility to minimize waste.

Although plastic today takes all shapes and sizes, we are still only beginning to take advantage of what we can do with these materials. As we continue to find new, innovative uses for plastics we are also learning more about the second and even third lives that our plastic products can lead. The mechanical recycling process that we’re all familiar with, separating water bottles and milk jugs into our blue bins, is recycling 1.0 and will continue to be an essential process for diverting plastic waste.