Recycling 101 Course

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Overview

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PURPOSE / FOCUS OF THIS COURSE

The purpose of this program is to give a basic understanding of recycling. It will educate readers on what recycling is, the different types and how they can make it a part of their everyday life.

It's important to note that all recycling programs are different. What can be recycled in one program cannot always be recycled in another. Always check your municipality guidelines.

1.2

COURSE CONTENT / METHOD OF SHARING

This course will be broken down into 5 different sections including all the information necessary to be successful in recycling, insight on why recycling is important and ways to eliminate waste from the source.

Pre-cycling
Introduction to Recycling
Curbside Recycling
Recycling Outside of Curbside Programs
Implementing Recycling in Everyday Life

At the end, there will be a short test to ensure you understand the basics of recycling.

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Pre-cycling

Before learning about recycling, it's important to discuss Pre-cycling. Pre-cycling is eliminating the need to recycle or dispose of Waste by not creating waste. This is a step that should be taken before you have to recycle.

Ways to Pre-cycle:

Pack meals in reusable containers instead of buying food in takeout containers or packing meals in plastic bags
Avoid using paper by reading on a screen instead of printing
Purchase items in bulk to reduce the amount of individual packaging
Avoid using plastic bags when shopping by bringing reusable bags instead

All of these are examples of pre-cycling because they eliminate waste from the source, never even giving it a chance to enter a Landfill. Pre-cycling is making a conscious effort to do things in a certain way that does not create waste. This may be difficult to remember at first but the more often it's done, the more likely it will become a habit.

Pre-cycling should be used whenever possible. When pre-cycling is not an option the next best option is to recycle. Continue reading to learn about what recyling is and how it benefits the environment.

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Introduction to Recycling

3.1

WHAT IS RECYCLING

Recycling is the process of taking used materials and reusing them to make new materials. Recycling also keeps items out of a landfill that would otherwise take thousands of years to biodegrade.

When people think of recycling they typically think of a blue bin program, but there is so many other types of recycling out there.

First there is the standard blue and grey bin. The blue bin is for plastic, glass and metals. The grey bin is for cardboard and paper. These may not be the color of every recycling bin, but they tend to be the most common.

Recycling bins are normally labeled, the labels will vary depending on the Recycling program. For plastics, glass and metal the bin could say plastics, cans & bottles or something else along the lines of that. For paper and cardboard, the bin could be labelled paper, mixed paper or paper and cardboard. Labels will change but they will always be around the same general theme.

Organics Recycling is recycling food waste and garden scraps. Organics decompose and can be used as compost or can be used to create into energy. Currently organics recycling is mainly done in homes if a municipality offers curbside organics recycling. More organizations are starting to take part in it as the demand increases and governments start to introduce new laws.

Recycling doesn't just stop at plastics, paper and organics. There are many other options available for recycling they just aren't a part of curbside programs. The more common examples and the ones discussed later on include e-waste, clothing, batteries and CFL light bulbs. Some other recycling options are shoe, car seat and even gum recycling! These options are not as popular because there are fewer programs available.

Now that we have learned what recycling is, let's discuss why everyone should recycle.

3.2

WHY RECYCLE

Recycling can benefit the environment in many different ways. To begin with, recycling saves energy, natural resources and can help reduce climate change and pollution. Recycling can also improve human health by keeping toxins out of the environment.

Another benefit of recycling is it reduces the amount of virgin materials used. Less virgin materials are used because the products can be recycled and made into a raw material. This recycled raw material can be used to make the same product or a similar one. For example, the more paper that is recycled the less trees (virgin material) that have to be cut down. This is because recycled paper can be made into a raw material and used to make new paper products.

Recycling also helps reduce the amount of energy required. More energy is required to produce products with virgin materials than using recycled materials.

Recycling reduces waste because instead of everything going to the landfill, now items are diverted by recycling them and creating new products. Also, recycling reduces pollution because it helps prevent littering and keeps garbage off the streets.

Recycling keeps toxins out of landfills, which prevents them from leaking and contaminating soil and nearby bodies of water. People who come in contact with the contaminated soil and water can become ill. By recycling toxic products it allows them to be disposed of properly and protects human health.

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Curbside Recycling

Curbside recycling programs are provided by municipalities. It varies based on the municipality but typically once a week they will come and pick up recycling with the regular garbage pickup. Recycling programs typically consist of plastics and paper. Many recycling programs are now expanding to include organic waste. It's important to understand what goes in each bin to avoid contamination.

4.1

PLASTICS, GLASS AND METAL

As mentioned above, plastic, glass and metal are typically recycled in a blue bin. Anything that is recycled should be emptied and cleaned out beforehand. For example, a plastic yogurt container must be empty and rinsed out before being recycled.

Recyclable plastic items will have a Mobius loop with a number inside of the loop somewhere on the item. The Mobius loop represents that the item is recyclable and the number tells you the type of plastic the item is made of.

Here are the 7 different types of plastic that are typically accepted in curbside programs. These are the symbols to look for when trying to determine if a plastic item is recyclable or not. Please remember that every recycling program is different and may accept different items.

Symbol	Description	Examples
	Polyethylene Terephthalate	Water Bottles, Pop Bottles
	High-Density Polyethylene	Laundry Detergent Bottles
	Polyvinyl Chloride	Shampoo Bottles, Window Cleaner Bottles
	Low-Density Polyethylene	Soap Dispenser Bottles
	Polypropylene	Carry-out Beverage Containers
	Polystyrene	Beer Cups, Coffee Cup Lids
	Others	Acrylic Plastics, Bioplastics

Here are some more acceptable plastics, metals and glass.

Acceptable Plastics, Glass and Metal:

Plastic #1-7
Cans
Glass Bottles
Glass Jars

Unacceptable Plastics, Glass and Metal:

Plastic Wrap
Styrofoam
Ceramics
Broken Glass

4.2

PAPER AND CARDBOARD

Paper and cardboard are usually sorted in a grey bin. Paper can be recycled into paper products like paper towel and tissue. The length of the paper fibers determines the quality of the paper. The longer the fibers the better the paper quality. Something like white printer paper that has long fibers can be recycled into another high-quality paper product. The more times the paper is recycled the shorter the paper fibers become and the quality decreases. These items are recycled into paper towel and toilet paper and no longer can be recycled.

It's important to know that once a paper product has been contaminated by water, food residue or bodily fluids they cannot be recycled. This is because these products will contaminate the recycling process and can ruin a batch of recycled products. An example of this are pizza boxes. Pizza boxes are commonly mistaken as recyclable but because of the grease residue left in the box they should be thrown out instead. You can cut off the top part of the pizza box and recycle that if it doesn't have food residue on it.

Acceptable Paper and Cardboard:

Printer Paper
Cardboard
Tissue Boxes
Junk Mail

Unacceptable Paper and Cardboard:

Anything Contaminated
Wet Newspaper
Paper Towel
Pizza Boxes
Heavily Dyed Paper
Coffee Cups (unless you have the proper coffee cup recycling bin and program)

4.3

ORGANICS

Organics recycling is a relatively new program that municipalities are starting to introduce. Organics include food and garden waste. About 30% of what ends up in the landfill is organic. Organics are biodegradable and have valuable nutrients that are lost and go unused in a landfill. On top of that, organics release methane which is a greenhouse gas. This greenhouse gas is 22 times worse for the environment than carbon dioxide. Organic recycling can use the nutrients and help reduce the amount of methane released.

Organics is a major part of what's in landfills so it's important to separate from waste so we can convert it into something useful like compost or energy (anaerobic decomposition). Once separated, the nutrients that would've been lost can be made into compost and can be used as a natural fertilizer for crops. Also, there is a process called anaerobic decomposition which uses the methane from organics to produce energy which limits the environmental impact of methane. Here's a list of items that can and cannot be recycled in organics programs:

Acceptable Organics:

Food Scraps
Garden Waste

Unacceptable Organics:

Pet Waste
Recyclables
Medical Waste

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Recycling Outside of Curbside Programs

Curbside programs cannot accept all recyclable items. There are recycling programs outside of curbside programs that accept other items like e-waste and light bulbs. If items cannot be recycled in a curbside program, research the municipality recycling guidelines to see if they have a drop off center. If they don't have a drop off center, there are many community programs that will recycle uncommon items. Here are examples of items that many not be recycled in curbside programs but can be recycled in other ways.

5.1

E-WASTE

As technology continues to evolve, improved versions of phones, computers and televisions are being released. When these items are released the old technology becomes waste. Let’s take a look at the evolution of cell phones, it started with a phone that plugs into the car, then a few with an antenna, skip a lot of different models and now enter the current era of smart phones. Since companies are constantly releasing updated versions of smart phones and with many people frequently replacing their phones, the waste really starts to add up. People ask "what do I do with my obsolete technology?"

Old technology should either be reused or recycled. If the technology is considered outdated but still in good condition, consider selling it or donating it. If it's no longer usable the electronic device should be recycled.

Recycling e-waste allows the valuable parts of electronics to be reused. Electronics can have copper, silver, aluminum and many other valuable materials that are reusable. By reusing these materials, it will decrease cost and the amount of waste heading to the landfill.

It's important to not throw out electronics in the garbage. Electronics can contain toxic chemicals that can leak which can cause environmental damage by contaminating soil and water. This can cause health problems if people come in contact with the contaminated soil and water. Recycling can prevent the environmental damage and health problems because by recycling you ensure that the chemicals are being disposed of properly.

5.2

CLOTHING

Clothing takes years to biodegrade in landfills. Instead of throwing clothes in the garbage consider donating them or giving them to a friend. Another option is clothing brands are starting fabric recycling programs and will accept used clothing. They'll take the used clothing and recycle the fabric to make new clothing or other textile items.

Clothing is a good opportunity to embrace pre-cycling as well. Before shopping, think about if an item is necessary or if it's an item that can be lived without. Focusing on needs over wants will help eliminate buying items that are destined for the landfill. Shop for quality items that are more likely going to last a long time. The less items purchased means the less that'll be thrown away.

5.3

BATTERIES

Batteries are another item that should'nt be thrown in the garbage. Batteries contain toxic chemicals in them so if the battery breaks the they can leak in the landfill. This can cause contaminations in the water and soil and can even lead to health problems.

When batteries are recycled the chemicals from them can be reused to produce new batteries. When gathering batteries to recycle, remember to tape the ends. If batteries are placed in a battery recycling bin without the ends taped it could cause them to spark.

5.4

CFL LIGHT BULBS

CFL light bulbs should be recycled because they contain mercury. Mercury is toxic and recycling CFLs is one of the best ways to avoid leakage of mercury. When recycling CFLs it is important not to break them. Once a CFL is broken it can no longer be recycled and extra caution should be taken when handling the broken bulb.

If the mercury from the CFL leaks into landfills, it can contaminate soil and waterways. Once the mercury is in the soil and waterways it can be damaging to human health and the environment.

Another reason CFLs should be recycled is because the mercury can be reused. Municipalities usually have a CFL recycling program, if not hardware stores will typically have a recycling program.

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Implementing Recycling in Everyday Life

Now that you have learned the basics of recycling it's time to put these theories into practice.

The easiest way to get in the habit of recycling is to start doing it at home. Most municipalities have a curbside recycling program so it’s time to start using it. Instead of just having a garbage can inside the house, add a smaller blue bin, grey bin and a compost bin. These bins can be emptied into the larger curbside bins when they are full. Having them beside the garbage inside the house will encourage recycling and will be more convenient than having to walk outside or to the garage. If there is not enough room to add those 3 containers, consider only adding a compost bin because it will be the most used and keep the two other recycling bins in the garage but close to the door. Having recycling containers in a convenient location will encourage and motivate people to recycle.

The best way to prevent contamination is to review your municipality guidelines. Make sure everyone in the house is aware of them by discussing the rules and if needed putting an acceptable recycling list near the recycling containers. This way if someone is unsure they can check the list before they recycle. This will reduce the chances of contamination.

Continue to recycle while at work and outside of the house. While outside of the house, take the time to find the correct bin to dispose of recycling or waste. Do this at work as well. If there isn't a recycling program at work, the best option is to bring recyclables home in order to dispose of them properly. Encourage workplaces to introduce a recycling program to help divert more waste from the landfill.

Items that are recyclable but not accepted in a curbside program, should be set aside. Collect them until there is enough to drop off at a community recycling program. Doing one trip for multiple items is more reasonable and convenient than multiple trips every time a light bulb burns out. Keep items like e-waste, clothing and many others out of the garbage and recycle them so they can be made into something new.

This concludes Busch Systems Recycling 101 Course. We hope we have provided the necessary information for you to successfully start or continue recycling. There is a short test after to ensure you understand the basics of recycling and for you to earn your Recycling 101 Certification. Enjoy recycling!

Recycling 101 Certification

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