{"id":3633,"date":"2022-08-10T08:01:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T12:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ricova.com\/plastic-bags-in-sorting-centres-a-plague\/"},"modified":"2024-02-15T14:28:55","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T19:28:55","slug":"plastic-bags-in-sorting-centres-a-plague","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/plastic-bags-in-sorting-centres-a-plague\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic bags in sorting centres: a plague!"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3633\" class=\"elementor elementor-3633 elementor-3579\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea3cb81 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea3cb81\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-783f92c\" data-id=\"783f92c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73a8edd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"73a8edd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">If you ask a recycling manager what his main concern is, the answer is almost always \u201cplastic bags in sorting centres\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9838aca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9838aca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA plastic bag carelessly thrown into the blue bin usually becomes a nightmare for sorting center machines, in addition to being the main contaminant of other materials, thus harming the quality of <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/recycling-paper-and-cardboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>recycling paper and cardboard<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, in particular.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0aeed6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0aeed6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Plastic bags in sorting centres: enemy number one<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-943a488 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"943a488\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The problem of plastic bags in sorting centres is not new, it was already identified in 2013 in a study by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.criq.qc.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Centre de recherche industrielle du Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong><\/span><\/a> (CRIQ), ordered by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Recy-Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p><p>Plastic bags interfere with the identification of other recyclable materials and contaminate them. In addition, they must be removed by hand from the sorting lines, making them very labor-intensive and difficult to capture.<\/p><p>Plastic bags can also pose a hazard to sorting centre equipment. The plastic film can become entangled in the machines, wrap around the separators, and thus cause breaks and slowdowns in the operations.<\/p><p>Example of problems with plastic bags in sorting centres:<\/p><ul><li>If not removed, plastic bags wrap recycling equipment and quickly block processing screens.<\/li><li>When too many bags are jammed, equipment must be shut down until it is cut manually.<\/li><li>Plastic bags easily escape from bins, trucks and landfills, polluting land and waterways.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb9af4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eb9af4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What to do with plastic bags?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-156d521 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"156d521\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><em><strong>Refuse them<\/strong><\/em><\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>The best thing to do for plastics is to reduce them at the source. This can be done, for example by refusing single-use bags at retail checkouts and always carrying reusable bags.<\/p><ul><li><em><strong>Reuse them<\/strong><\/em><\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>Ideally, we should avoid single-use plastic bags and plastic films. Otherwise, we should reuse them as much as possible.<\/p><p>Examples of reuse include:<\/p><ul><li>Keep and reuse your plastic bags when you go to the market and buy fruits or vegetables in bulk. This way, your shopping trolley stays clean.<\/li><li>Keep your fresh herbs (such as parsley and coriander), placing the ends of the herbs in a large glass with water, then tying a plastic bag around the top of the bouquet, before putting them in the refrigerator. Nothing better to retain moisture and prevent your herbs from drying out!<\/li><li>Use bags for small garbage cans like those in the bathroom. Store excess bags with other garbage bags and use them as needed.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2609efb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2609efb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"855\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sacs-de-plastique.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3625\" alt=\"Plastic bags\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sacs-de-plastique.jpg 855w, https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sacs-de-plastique-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sacs-de-plastique-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sacs-de-plastique-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b70c2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1b70c2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><em><strong>Gather them, before putting them in the bin<\/strong><\/em><\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>Putting all your plastic bags and film in a single, clear, tied plastic bag before putting them in the recycling bin will greatly facilitate their identification at sorting centres, and will prevent contamination of other materials.<\/p><p>Examples of bags and film to be grouped in a single bag:<\/p><ul><li>Grocery bag<\/li><li>Shopping bag<\/li><li>Bag of milk and bread<\/li><li>Ziploc sandwich bag<\/li><li>Packaging for cheese<\/li><li>Clean plastic wrap<\/li><li>Bubble wrap<\/li><li>Publisac bag (without flyers) \u2026<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37e575c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"37e575c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Beware, biodegradable bags do not go to the bin!<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67f2ac7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67f2ac7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSome bags are identified as oxobiodegradable or degradable. They are made of conventional plastic to which an additive has been added. This additive is a contaminant for recycling, so don\u2019t put them in the blue bin or the brown bin. However, oxobiodegradable or degradable bags make good garbage bags in second life!\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26639ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"26639ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Progresses, but not enough <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5f985f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d5f985f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA ban on the distribution of plastic shopping bags in retail stores, including grocery stores, in all boroughs of Montreal, coming into force on September 27, will undoubtedly help to combat the plague of plastic bags in sorting centres.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b59ac8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b59ac8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHowever, at Ricova, we think we need to do more, because beyond the problems in the sorting centres, the issue is above all environmental. Do we need to remember that if it ends up in the wild, a plastic bag will take more than 400 years before disappearing completely?\r\n\r\nRicova wants governments to go further and is calling for a general ban on bags, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brossard.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>city of Brossard<\/strong><\/span><\/a> did in 2016.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plastic bags are a nightmare for sorting centres. They cause machine breakdowns and contaminate other materials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3615,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,8],"tags":[132,128,60],"class_list":["post-3633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","category-environnement","tag-plastic-bags","tag-recycling-bins","tag-sorting-centers"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3633\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ricova.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}