RECYCLABLE ITEMS
Can you recycle plastic water bottles?
Yes
No
Yes
You can reuse the plastic from used water bottles to make new products, and you can also reuse the used water bottle itself for certain purposes. They can be used for many things like clothes, rugs, backpacks, etc.
Which item should not be put into your curbside recycling container:
A:) Aluminum can
B:) Styrofoam
C:) Newspaper
B:) Styrofoam
Styrofoam is not an acceptable material in your curbside recycling but is accepted at the Monroe recycling facility where it is densified and brought to a business that uses it to make moldings and frames.
How would you recycle an old or broken TV/Computer?
A:) Throw it in the garbage
B:) Place it in your curbside recycling bin
C:) Bring to your local recycling facility
C:) Bring to your local recycling facility
Old or broken electronics are known as E-Waste and can be recycled at the Monroe recycling facility. Electronic recycling occurs primarily to recover valuable, rare-earth metals and precious metals, that are resold or used in new devices after purification.
Can styrofoam plates and coffee cups be recycled?
Yes
No
Sometimes
No
It’s a type of plastic, often labeled as #6 plastic. Difficult to recycle due to its lightweight and fragile nature. Breaks into small pieces, which can contaminate other recycling streams.
Recycling saves trees.
True
False
True
When we recycle paper, we don't need to cut down as many trees to make new paper products
Can you recycle plastic straws in your curbside recycling?
Yes
No
No
Plastic straws, made from a harder plastic, are not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose
Can you make another plastic water bottle from a used plastic water bottle?
Yes
No
No
While many items can be made from recycled plastic water bottles, you cannot create a new, functional plastic water bottle from a single, plastic water bottle.
What is a major environmental issue caused by improper plastic disposal?
A) Air pollution
B) Soil Erosion
C) Water Pollution
C) Water pollution
These bags break down into microplastics, tiny plastic particles that contaminate soil and waterways.
Should you keep the cap on the bottle when you recycle it?
Yes
No
Yes
As long as the cap is on tight it helps at the recovery center with the sorting process
Can you put cans, glass, plastics, cardboard, and paper all together in the curbside recycling container?
Yes
Single-stream recycling is a system where all recyclable materials are mixed together in one bin for collection and transport, eliminating the need for sorting at the curb.
How should recyclables be prepared before disposal?
A) Rinse and clean
B) Leave food scraps inside
C) Wrap in plastic bags
A) Rinse and clean
We do this to avoid any food contamination to the recyclable material.
Can you put plastic bags in your curbside recycling bin?
Yes
No
No
Plastic bags should not be in your recycling bin as they jam the machines at the recycling center when the material is going through the sorting process. It is best to either reuse them or throw them in the regular trash.
How many plastic bottles are thrown away every hour?
A.) 300
B.) 3,000
C.) 300,000
D.) 3,000,000
D. 3,000,000
Yikes! That's a lot of water bottles which can take about 500 years to decompose.
What is it called when you recycle food scraps?
A.) Composting
B.) Reducing
C.) Recycling
A:)Composting
You can turn food scraps and yard waste in nutrient rich soil for your plants
Recycling helps keep our air and water clean?
True
False
True
When we don't throw things away, we reduce the amount of pollution that can harm our environment
Are "clean" pizza boxes recyclable in your curbside recycling container?
Yes
No
Yes.
As long as the pizza box doesn't have any food or grease on the box.
Can plastic water bottles be used to make a lunch bag?
Yes
No
Yes
It is obtained by melting down plastics (e.g. PET bottles) and converting it to polyester fibers. When Recycled PET plastics are melted down the fiber can be used for carpets, fabric for clothing, and other products.
How many times can boxes be recycled?
A.) 1
B.) 7
C.) 12
B.) 7 times
Boxes can be recycled 7 times and can be used to make new packaging boxes and even furniture.
What is the most recycled material?
A.) Aluminum Cans
B.) Plastic bottles
C.) Paper
A.) Aluminum Cans
Aluminum cans are one of the most easy materials to crush, shred and melt down into ingots.
Lithium batteries can be disposed in your curbside recycling bin?
True
False
False
Some lithium batteries have been starting fires in our waste receptacles. Lithium batteries should be brought to the Monroe recycling facility to safely and properly dispose of.
Is shredded paper recyclable in your curbside recycling container?
Yes
No
No
While paper is generally recyclable, shredded paper is often not accepted in curbside recycling because the small size can cause issues with getting jammed in the machinery
How much of all plastic is actually recycled?
A.) 9%
B.) 43%
C.) 76%
A.) 9%
Most plastic packaging is made from 7 grades of plastic that are incompatible with each other and costly to sort for recycling
How long does it take for plastic bags take to decompose (break down)?
A.) 10-15 years
B.) 20-30 years
C.) 35-40 years
B.) 20-30 years
This is why it is so important to use reusable bags as opposed to plastic ones.
This material can be recycled forever.
A:) Glass
B:) Plastics
C:) Paper
A:) Glass.
Glass is recycled forever because it is 100% recyclable, where it can be melted and reshaped into new glass products without loss of quality.
Any material that has the recycling symbol can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin?
True
False
False
The recycling symbol often includes a number inside (usually 1–7), which refers to the type of plastic the item is made from. This symbol does not guarantee that your local recycling facility accepts that material.