Opponents, and those who question the efficicacy of recycling, point to the disruption of the Chinese and other plastic markets as evidence that recycling is not effective, and some cases is harmful to workers and the environment.
But even before the closing of the Chinese and SE Asian markets, entrpreneurs began turning plastic waste into commodities. One such business is Precious Plastics which employs hundreds of people in several countries around the world, http://preciousplastic.com.
Precious Plastics trains and educates its owners and workers on the hazards of plastic reconstruction, and their safety is central to its operation. https://community.preciousplastic.com/academy/plastic/safety
Precious Plastics now has a branch on Kaua’i, Paradise Plastic, owned by Abe Kowitz in Kapa’a.
https://www.plasticparadisekauai.com
Kowitz will be turning your recyled plastic into furniture such as tables and rocking chairs, and is actively collecting #1, #2, #4, and #5 plastics. He asks that the donor remove the labels. As a courtesy, please clean food and other contamination from plastic before recycling. Paradise Plastic will pick up your recycled plastic or can arrange to have you drop it off. Contact them for more information.
PreciousPlasticKauai@gmail.com