What they’re saying: On Thursday, June 30th the governor of California signed a new law requiring that all forms of single-use packaging, including paper and metals, be recyclable or compostable by 2032.
Contrary to earlier laws, experts say it is the most significant because it goes further in requiring producers to both make less plastic and to ensure that all single-use products are recyclable or compostable.
A key tenet of the laws: The costs of recycling infrastructure, recycling plants and collection and sorting facilities, will be shifted to packaging manufacturers and away from taxpayers, who currently foot the bill.
The good news: Steel is 100 percent recyclable, which means it can be recycled into the same material of the same quality again and again.
- A steel drum can become another steel drum, or a refrigerator, car door or roof panel.
- When you buy steel you are buying recycled.
- In addition to being continually recyclable, steel’s durable characteristics enable many common products to be reused.
Even more good news: Before a steel drum is ever recycled it can be reconditioned and re-used numerous times making it one of the most environmentally friendly packages in the world.