Turning recyclable trash into gold

Chris Darrell, Swarthmore, PA — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:06:12 GMT

It was a shame that the reporter and Nightly News didn't ask the most critical question - why is the US exporting all this valuable material so that China can recycle it and save their economy so much money over using raw materials? Why aren't WE reusing this material and gaining the full value instead of making the "quick buck" 10% profit from simply sending it elsewhere?

Turning recyclable trash into gold

gail Hennessey, Harpursville, NY — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:13:27 GMT

Very interesting story! Glad to see those water bottles are finding a use instead of going to the landfills....

Turning recyclable trash into gold

G Carter, Columbus, Oh — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:14:32 GMT

I am a loyal NBC Nightly viewer. This is the first time that I was not pleassed with Brian Williams. His comment after the Trash segment, was uncalled for and showed disrespect for the subject and those of us who work at recyleing. "His comment was, Well whatever" or something like that". Again I say, uncalled for. I don't think Mr.Tim would have liked it either.
Gwen

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Patti Singer, Steeleville, Illinois — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:25:52 GMT

On hearing about the recycling being shipped to China; I can't help but wonder why the most important question wasn't addressed--WHY can't the stuff we're shipping to China to be recycled here, BE recycled here. America is supposed to be the most advanced country--if we can SHIP it, we should be able to RECYCLE it too.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Lori Bedell, State College, PA — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:25:53 GMT

Of course, we're sending them toxic stuff, dangerous stuff. In addition to hurting them and their environment, we end up with it again in products like lead paint in children's toys. They take the metals out of our electronics and recycle it, sending it back to us as consumables. We get what we give.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Carolyn Phillips, Lansing, Michigan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:45:04 GMT

I couldn't believe my ears tonight when Brian Williams closed the story on exporting/recycling trash to other countries by saying something to the effect of, "if you say so". My gosh, what was he thinking? For decades the country has been slow to embrace recycling vs making new products. FINALLY this industry is taking off and making money for small entrepreneuers, and most likely also employes hundreds of unskilled or handicapped/special needs workers. Millions of Americans work very hard to save their solid waste for recycling. We, personally, pay a monthly fee to have our recycling picked up and generate very little trash, avoiding precious space consumption in landfills. Others drive miles to take it to recycling centers, even at today's cost of gas, BECAUSE WE CARE. Shame on you Brian Williams.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Stella Sach, Plano, Texas — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:49:34 GMT

Brian Williams

I have just finished watching this article broadcast today. Your final comment "if you say so" was particularly condescending! Because the value of waste material is increasing as demand grows, just like any other business; we all strive to make the biggest bang for our depleting dollar. If this business is earning foreign exchange and helping the environment, it should be applauded no matter how unsavory the service may seem. I believe you turned your nose up at this "sweet smell of success". His business might have earned more profit this year than most other American businesses. In England we have a saving "where there's muck there's brass" This man proves the case hands down.. shame on you..
Stella

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Thomas Speakman vancouver, Wa. — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:08:24 GMT

Why don't we use all this recyle material at home? It would cut are oil use especially since all the plastic takes oil to make.We seem to be missing the boat here.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Anne Hackney — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:11:04 GMT

Should we in America consider that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander - and create a way to recycle our own trash?

Thank you for your really wonderful programs.

Anne Hackney

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Paula Jussila, Paso Robles, CA — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:13:21 GMT

Amen to recycling, but how much energy are we using shipping this stuff back and forth to China? Are we using more energy to get the materials back and forth than we're gaining? Don't we have the ability to recycle these products closer to home?

Turning recyclable trash into gold

WC Holland, Wingo, KY — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:12:54 GMT

Will America sell her soul? So U.S. companies make a few billion dollars, then what? Does China takes ALL kinds of plastics(from chemical contains, insecticide containers, etc.)and recycle them back into American children's toys, drinking cups, diapers and who knows what else. What kind of safe guards are in place for our protection when we IMPORT their finished products? Only a few months ago we saw a story on the Nightly News about the danger of certain recyled plastic products. Now I know WHY! We think we are getting something CHEAP! Wake up America! WE need to recyle, but let's do ourselves.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Rob E, Holland, MI — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:51:33 GMT

Pay attention people! The ships are going back with empty containers either way. Should we have a better infrastructure to recycle materials back to usable form here, absolutely. Take a look around your house most of your stuff says Made in China. Whether you are shipping back garbage or ready to use materials - it's going back there.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Bobby B — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:22:23 GMT

Why does it seem like most of the people posting here did not even see the story. No extra environmental impact by shipping to the Far East. The boxes used to go back empty. And the materials COULD and sometimes are recycled here in the U.S. but we don't make much anymore. There is no need for the raw materials that make packaging if there is no product to package. This is not a problem with the recycling industry, it is the much larger problem that the US can't make anything competitively anymore. Our high standard of living has taken care of that. Unions pricing themselves out of jobs.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

soulshadow, Washington, D.C. — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:15:16 GMT

I agree with the other posters who caught Brian's comment at the end of the story. When I heard him say "if you say so," I thought what the hell does he mean by that. These newscasters have increasingly over the years begun to put their snide little comments after various news stories. They are not hired to put in their personal opinions into news stories. They are paid large sums of money to read and report. Keep your personal opinions to yourself. I thought his statement was tacky and uncalled for.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Leslie Austin Johnson - Vancouver Washington — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:17:59 GMT

BRIAN, How could you!? I watch your show religiously and this is the first time you've really done me wrong. I've been in the recycling industry for a number of years, doing everything from working with curbside collection programs to marketing scrap paper, metal and plastic bottles to domestic and foreign customers. It's been happening for years but it's only recently that people like Cal Tigchelaar have actually been able to make good money from marketing our "garbage." One reason it goes overseas is that countries like China and India are the ones with labor that's cheap enough to allow for sorting and reusing our "garbage." If our labor markets were able to work and survive on pennies a day, we could keep more of that material here and develop more processing plants. And you should know that much of our recycled material does stay here and is used to manufacture newsprint, decking, copy paper, pop cans, shopping bags, etc. SO --- look for the recycle symbol when you shop. Buy those products made in the US so that more processing and manufacturing can happen here. Then we won't have to sell our "recycled commodities" (NOT GARBAGE) to export markets. And I need to ask --- do you recycle at home, Brian?

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Helen Engle, Boston, MA — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:45:52 GMT

The most amazing recycling that has taken place between the USA and China is all the scrap metal from the World Trade Center. China was allowed to haul all of it away without paying us anything. Our excuse was we didn't have enough of the types of ships needed to do it rapidly and we didn't have enough smelters to quickly melt it down. Hummm.

Turning recyclable trash into gold

Debbie, Tucson Arizona — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:59:47 GMT

Are they really just recycling? Or, are they also looking for any trade secrets? Be careful what your throw away and in what condition it is when you throw it out. Just a thought...