Recycling Science
What does contamination mean in recycling?
When non-recyclables, food, or liquids get mixed into recyclable material.
You finished a shampoo bottle in your bathroom. Should you throw it away?
No. Shampoo bottles, soap bottles, and empty toilet rolls from your bathroom should be recycled.
What are the 3 R's, in order of priority
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
(Also Repair and Rot)
What greenhouse gas can be produced when food decomposes without oxygen in the landfill?
Methane
What are the benefits of using reusable cups, water bottles, plates, and more?
You can use them again, save money, and reduce your waste
Can aluminum be recycled forever?
Yes. Aluminum can be melted and reformed without losing its useful material properties.
A cardboard box has tape on it and Styrofoam inside. What should you do?
Leave the tape on. Throw away the Styrofoam. Break down and recycle box.
What is composting?
Composting means taking food scrapes and organic materials and making them into useful soil amendments instead of sending them to the landfill.
What are resources used to produce food?
Land, water, energy, fertilizer, labor, and transportation
What can you do with clothes that still fit someone else but no longer fit you?
Donate or give away
What is the difference between a material being recyclable and a material actually being recycled?
Recyclable material means if CAN be processed into something new. A material actually being recycled means it is collected, sorted, processed, and made into a new product.
Why should you NOT recycle plastic shopping bags?
Flexible bags or wrappers can wrap around and jam sorting equipment, causeing damage.
What is a circular economy?
A system where the items we purchase are used as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling.
True or False: People who live near the landfill experience higher rates of respitory illness.
True
What can you do to get your family to recycle better?
Get a recycling bin, put a magnet on the fridge, remind them when they throw away recyclables or put trash in the recycling, share why it's important, etc.
If you have a plastic item that has a recycling symbol on it with a number in the middle, does that mean you should recycle it?
No. The numbers identify the type of plastic, not whether local facilities collect and process it.
A very greasy pizza box has a clean lid and greasy bottom. What is the best approach.
Rip off the top part and recycle it. Throw away heavily greasy items (some grease is okay!).
Why might repairing an item be better for the environment than immediately recycling and replacing the item?
Repairing extends its useful life while purchasing new may require raw materials and processing.
Why might recycling a battery be dangerous?
It could start a fire in the truck or at the sorting facility.
What color is the recycling dumpster?
GREEN! (sometimes blue)
How many times can paper be recycled?
3-4 times. After that, the fibers that hold the paper together are too weak.
You see your mom putting recyclables in a plastic bag to take to the recycling dumpster. What is she doing wrong?
Recycling must be loosely put in the recycling dumpster, or it will be thrown away.
What does "Diversion Rate" mean.
Diversion rate is the calculated percentage of materials throw out that is being diverted from the landfill
How long does it take for a plastic bottle to decompose in the ground?
500 Years
What is the most littered item in the world and where does litter go.
Cigarettes! They can wash away into streams and rivers and hurt animal life.