RECYCLE much? (or, the GREAT TRASH ISLAND)

(image from lastnightsgarbage.com a blog about garbage found on NYC streets... )


Soooo... who here recycles? OOHH OOOOH PICK ME! OOOH MEEEE! I RECYCLE!! YAAAAA!

well... CONGRATS, me too. it might not be working out so hot though. i learned by being a construction worker and bringing loads of garbage to the dump DIRECTLY that all garbage in san francisco is sorted once it arrives there (and they take out all the interesting figurines and sculptures and put them on display on a giant hill behind the dump. its really quite impressive, and im not kidding.)

but the reason they go through it is to SORT OUT RECYCLABLES. thats why we don't have to sort paper from plastic from glass in SF (yes, the planning department is also high) because its all gonna be sorted again when it gets there. now i know your all thinking THIS IS GRRRRREAT! but wait. i have confirmation from an inside source that almost all municiple recyclables on the west coast are SHIPPED TO CHINA for processing.
now think about this for a second:


(image from theferrisfiles.com apparently dude worked out with BARACK OBAMA)

this is an image of the location of the "GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE ISLAND" oh its there, all right. just check out this popular science article: HERE and read all about it. The GIANT TRASH ISLAND IS 80% PLASTIC and occurs where ocean currents converge to create a spot where debris builds up. so here i ask again:

WHO HERE RECYCLES? hmmm. its kinda hard to tell now, isnt it? 2nd question: WHICH PART OF YOUR RECYCLING FLOATS?

this is all very sad. sorry.