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Better yet, how do recycling plants separate the different materials. I know that if you were to mix two different types of plastics, that they would not be able to be re-used(even though I heard of a new technology where someone was able to mix two different types of plastics to form a super strong one). How do they separate plastics 1-5 and number 7? Also, how do they separate the adhesives and other materials on recyclable products like glass and plastic bottles?

Checked into your local recycling centers lately? Chances are you have more ways to go green and reduce your rubbish than you realize. Local recycling practices vary by area, but there are some universal Yes’s and No’s:

Paper: YES

Mail, office and school papers along with envelopes with windows are ok. Newspaper, ad inserts, magazines, catalogs and phone books are also great candidates for a recycling program once they are free from any plastic covers.

Purging your old files and uncluttering? Keep it green! If your items are shredded, your local pickup person AND your neighbors will appreciate the shreds in a paper bag stapled shut.

Cardboard is another big recycling item. You can even put in light weight cardboard such as dry food boxes such as those that hold cereal, cake mix, cracker or pasta. A good rule of thumb, if it’s a box that can go into a dry storage pantry, most likely it can be recycled.

WATCH FOR: Pop or Beverage can cartons, pizza boxes, egg cartons, refrigerated or frozen food boxes. These boxes are normally not handled by your local facility as they carry different printing or materials to contain food and may need to be included in your normal garbage waste. Check with your local provider.

Bottles, Jars, Cans: YES

Many bottles, jars or cans can be recycled, but this is where you really need to know your numbers. Just because the symbol is on the bottom of the container, doesn’t mean it can actually be recycled. It does signal what the items is made from and can identify if your items can go in the local recycling bin. As with all items, some may not be handled by your facility depending upon the type. Check with your local collector for more information.

WATCH FOR – Plastic: Plastics are forever, and currently most recyclers only collect plastic with numbers one (#1) and two (#2). Those plastics are things like water bottles, milk and juice jugs and even your laundry detergent containers. Most plastic items that have a handle, twist-top or you can pour with is recyclable.

• #1 – PET or PETE – SAFE – RECYCLABLE (Polyethylene terephthalate)
• #2 – HDPE – SAFE – RECYCLABLE (high-density polyethylene)

Plastics with numbers three (#3) – six (#6) right now are ending up in landfills for most areas. Why? Most recycled products currently only use the first two types, #1 and #2. With very few end markets, most of those plastics have no destination currently. Plastics three through six would be things like plastic food wrap, grocery bags, plastic food containers with lids and yogurt containers. In most areas, these items should be in your regular garbage waste. Containers that held hazardous substances like motor oil for example, should be disposed of at your local hazardous waste collection site.

• #3 – VINYL or PVC – AVOID BUYING, NOT RECYCLABLE in most areas (polyvinyl chloride)
• #4 – LDPE – SAFE – RECYCLABLE: Accepted at plastic bag recycling centers and drop stations (low-density polyethylene)
• #5 – PP – SAFE – RECYCLABLE: Check with your local recycling program (low-density polyethylene)
• #6 – PS – AVOID BUYING, NOT RECYCLABLE in most areas: Check with your local recycling program (polystyrene)

Plastic number seven (#7) is also in the market place and can be tricky to understand because it can be used with two different types of materials. Most are a composite plastic that is used to make those reusable hard plastic water bottles, baby bottles and sip cups. This item is not recycled primarily because of a health concern when heating the item. Apparently the chemical Bisphenol A, a low-level estrogen, can be exposed when the item is scratched or heated and can contaminate our food or drink. The biggest concern is exposure for women who are pregnant and children in their first few years which are unfortunate due the high use of the durable hard product in those markets. If using these items, glass or stainless steel may be an alternative worth looking at.

• #7 – PC – AVOID BUYING, NOT RECYCLABLE & QUESTIONABLE: Hard composite plastic. (Miscellaneous)
• #7 – PLA – SAFE, NOT RECYCLABLE but can be composted (polyactide, made from renewable plant resources)

GLASS Jars & Bottles: YES

Nearly ALL glass jars and bottles are accepted at recycling centers in the US. Broken glass, light bulbs or window panes are the only concerns for area recyclers for obvious safety reasons. Simply remove all lids and caps and rinse well so that the recycling centers can easily process them through their systems without a mess and machine damage.

Metal Cans & Aluminum Foil: YES

We all have those cans of soup, beans, or pop that sit around and remind us to recycle. What holds us back? Rinsing them out most likely or having just a single can to in your bin. Let me tell you now – one DOES make a difference and when you are actively recycling other items, one doesn’t seem like a lonely number.

WATCH OUT: Aerosol cans are not included in recycled materials.

Batteries: YES- In some areas.

Batteries can be recycled, but some areas do not have local pick up that includes those items. This is where your local stores that sell electronics come into play. Did you know that they usually have recycling centers for batteries, cell phones and other small items right inside their store doors? Check it out next time you are there. Until then, here are some steps to follow:

• Lithium ion batteries should have their ends taped to prevent fire and placed in a bag.
• Alkaline batteries should be in a clear plastic bag just in case they are leaking.
• Rechargeable batteries from small to large cordless tool sizes get old too with time. They need to be recycled as well.

WATCH OUT: Auto Batteries cannot be recycled through regular local drop-offs. These items need to be recycled where you would buy new ones like auto parts, hardware or department stores.

Carrie Barclay is a Professional Marketing, Design and Organization Consultant and the founder of Defined Living — offering “Guides to Organizing your Life, Home & Office!” Visit for organizing products, free tips and advice, online forums and special interest articles such as green living and feng shui. For more information on ways to go green, go to http://www.DefinedLiving.com
If you would like to reprint this article, you may do so as long as you include this full resource box. (Copyright Carrie Barclay)

Author: Carrie Barclay
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Netbook, Tablets and Mobile Computing

My company prints a type of plastic that is currently unable to be repurposed or recycled. We throw out tons of scrap plastic and would love to have a viable recycling option. Where would I go to research methods for recycling this scrap? Would a University or other organization be able to help with this? Who would I contact and how could I learn more?

Expanded Polystrene foam recycling machine, recycle your styrofoam and EPS. EPS GROUP LLC recycle Polystrene foam. Contact Charlie for more info. wscus@hotmail.com

Here in Houston, TX, they’re talking about becoming greener, but so far I’ve heard nothing about more recycling programs for people in apartments and also several subdivisions. The nearest facility to my apartment to take almost all recyclables is pretty far away, and I know my friends would recycle better if they had a more convenient way to do so. Any thoughts?

Recycling is sort of like exercising: we all know we should do it, but not all of us do it as often as we should–and some of us don’t do it at all. However, there are lots of reasons why you should make an effort to recycle as much as possible. If you haven’t been diligent about recycling your garbage, here are seven good reasons why you should start.

It cuts back on global warming. Our planet is starting to feel the effects of global warming already–and we need to do whatever we can to lessen the impact. Production of certain materials from scratch can release significant amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Aluminum production is a prime example–producing new aluminum creates 95% more CO2 than recycling old aluminum cans. In addition, recycling paper saves trees–for each ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are saved. Each of these trees can extract around 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air in a year.

It makes us more energy-efficient. It often takes a great deal more energy to create something from scratch than to recycle it. For example, it takes twice as much energy to burn plastic as to recycle it; it takes 64% more energy to make paper than to recycle it; and recycling just one pound of steel can save enough energy to run a 60-watt bulb for one day.

It keeps our landfills from overflowing. We’re fast running out of space for landfills–especially near cities. Seaside cities have been dumping trash into their oceans for decades to circumvent the problem, but with widespread marine ecological collapse, this is no longer a viable option. Worse yet, it’s difficult to find land in suburban and rural areas whose residents will allow landfills to come into their areas without a fight. The squeeze for landfill land is only going to get worse in the future.

Recycling gives us some hope for this bleak scenario. Studies show that 60% to 75% of garbage in landfills can be recycled. That means that if everybody recycled, we’d have 60% to 75% less garbage in our landfills, and we’d need at least that much less land for garbage disposal.

It improves the quality of our groundwater. The garbage in landfills is usually not treated in any way–it’s simply thrown in a big hole and buried over. Much of this garbage is not environmentally friendly or readily biodegradable–and it’s no surprise that contaminants can get into our water. Rain and other runoff from landfills gets into our streams, rivers, lakes, and other waterways, damaging fragile ecosystems. It’s also a major reason why it’s not safe to drink from streams and rivers when you’re hiking and camping–even when it looks like you’re in a pristine environment. Recycling reduces the trash in landfills, and the more we recycle, the more our water systems can start becoming as pure as they look.

It reduces air pollution. Many factories that produce plastics, metals, and paper products release toxins into the air. Recycle these materials, and there will be less need for companies to manufacture new materials–saving on the amount of pollution dumped into our atmosphere. In addition, disposing of certain recyclable materials can also produce significant pollution. For example, plastics are often burned in incinerators. Plastics are made with oil, and that oil is released into the atmosphere when the plastic burns–creating serious greenhouse-gas emissions.

It creates jobs. From manufacturing to processing, from collection to invention–it’s no secret that recycling is a growth industry, earning billions of dollars annually. Our need to recycle is only going to grow more urgent as populations grow and as technology changes. Recycling creates far more jobs than landfills do–enough jobs to make a big difference in a small town.

It adds to property value. It’s obvious that a landfill near your home can decrease your property values significantly. Recycling reduces the amount of land needed for landfills. This reduces the number of houses near landfills, keeping property values up and homeowners happy. The more people recycle, the fewer landfills we need–and if enough people pitch in, recycling should pay off for everybody.

It’s good business. Pitting business against the environment is a lose-lose situation: everybody suffers. And yet, that’s how the debate has been framed in politics and the public sphere for years. This is a shame, because the truth is that recycling just makes good business sense. Industrial factories and processing plants save plenty of money on energy and extraction strategies when they use recycled materials instead of virgin resources. They also ensure that basic resources don’t become a scarce commodity, keeping demand and prices down and ensuring that their business can continue for decades to come.

One person can make a difference. With so many good causes, it’s easy to get discouraged–especially when the problem is so widespread that it’s hard to see what difference your individual effort is making. Many people think this is true with recycling, too–but the truth is that small acts of recycling make a big difference. For example, recycling just one large newspaper would save around 75,000 trees. On average, each person in the U.S. produces around 1,600 lbs. of waste each year. If you recycled all of that, you could save around 1,100 lbs. of waste per year–that’s over half a ton–just by yourself!

We hope that after reading this article, you’ll be inspired to become a recycling advocate–or at least be certain to recycle in the future. Recycling benefits everybody, and takes only a little trash-sorting to put into effect. With our limited space for landfills and dwindling resources, it’s a sure thing that recycling is here to stay.

David Beart is the owner of [http://www.professorshouse.com]. Our site covers such topics as household recycling [http://www.professorshouse.com/your-home/environmentally-friendly/environmentally-friendly-articles.aspx] as a family, children and gardening

Author: David Beart
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Recycling is sort of like exercising: we all know we should do it, but not all of us do it as often as we should–and some of us don’t do it at all. However, there are lots of reasons why you should make an effort to recycle as much as possible. If you haven’t been diligent about recycling your garbage, here are seven good reasons why you should start.

It cuts back on global warming. Our planet is starting to feel the effects of global warming already–and we need to do whatever we can to lessen the impact. Production of certain materials from scratch can release significant amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Aluminum production is a prime example–producing new aluminum creates 95% more CO2 than recycling old aluminum cans. In addition, recycling paper saves trees–for each ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are saved. Each of these trees can extract around 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air in a year.

It makes us more energy-efficient. It often takes a great deal more energy to create something from scratch than to recycle it. For example, it takes twice as much energy to burn plastic as to recycle it; it takes 64% more energy to make paper than to recycle it; and recycling just one pound of steel can save enough energy to run a 60-watt bulb for one day.

It keeps our landfills from overflowing. We’re fast running out of space for landfills–especially near cities. Seaside cities have been dumping trash into their oceans for decades to circumvent the problem, but with widespread marine ecological collapse, this is no longer a viable option. Worse yet, it’s difficult to find land in suburban and rural areas whose residents will allow landfills to come into their areas without a fight. The squeeze for landfill land is only going to get worse in the future.

Recycling gives us some hope for this bleak scenario. Studies show that 60% to 75% of garbage in landfills can be recycled. That means that if everybody recycled, we’d have 60% to 75% less garbage in our landfills, and we’d need at least that much less land for garbage disposal.

It improves the quality of our groundwater. The garbage in landfills is usually not treated in any way–it’s simply thrown in a big hole and buried over. Much of this garbage is not environmentally friendly or readily biodegradable–and it’s no surprise that contaminants can get into our water. Rain and other runoff from landfills gets into our streams, rivers, lakes, and other waterways, damaging fragile ecosystems. It’s also a major reason why it’s not safe to drink from streams and rivers when you’re hiking and camping–even when it looks like you’re in a pristine environment. Recycling reduces the trash in landfills, and the more we recycle, the more our water systems can start becoming as pure as they look.

It reduces air pollution. Many factories that produce plastics, metals, and paper products release toxins into the air. Recycle these materials, and there will be less need for companies to manufacture new materials–saving on the amount of pollution dumped into our atmosphere. In addition, disposing of certain recyclable materials can also produce significant pollution. For example, plastics are often burned in incinerators. Plastics are made with oil, and that oil is released into the atmosphere when the plastic burns–creating serious greenhouse-gas emissions.

It creates jobs. From manufacturing to processing, from collection to invention–it’s no secret that recycling is a growth industry, earning billions of dollars annually. Our need to recycle is only going to grow more urgent as populations grow and as technology changes. Recycling creates far more jobs than landfills do–enough jobs to make a big difference in a small town.

It adds to property value. It’s obvious that a landfill near your home can decrease your property values significantly. Recycling reduces the amount of land needed for landfills. This reduces the number of houses near landfills, keeping property values up and homeowners happy. The more people recycle, the fewer landfills we need–and if enough people pitch in, recycling should pay off for everybody.

It’s good business. Pitting business against the environment is a lose-lose situation: everybody suffers. And yet, that’s how the debate has been framed in politics and the public sphere for years. This is a shame, because the truth is that recycling just makes good business sense. Industrial factories and processing plants save plenty of money on energy and extraction strategies when they use recycled materials instead of virgin resources. They also ensure that basic resources don’t become a scarce commodity, keeping demand and prices down and ensuring that their business can continue for decades to come.

One person can make a difference. With so many good causes, it’s easy to get discouraged–especially when the problem is so widespread that it’s hard to see what difference your individual effort is making. Many people think this is true with recycling, too–but the truth is that small acts of recycling make a big difference. For example, recycling just one large newspaper would save around 75,000 trees. On average, each person in the U.S. produces around 1,600 lbs. of waste each year. If you recycled all of that, you could save around 1,100 lbs. of waste per year–that’s over half a ton–just by yourself!

We hope that after reading this article, you’ll be inspired to become a recycling advocate–or at least be certain to recycle in the future. Recycling benefits everybody, and takes only a little trash-sorting to put into effect. With our limited space for landfills and dwindling resources, it’s a sure thing that recycling is here to stay.

David Beart is the owner of [http://www.professorshouse.com]. Our site covers such topics as household recycling [http://www.professorshouse.com/your-home/environmentally-friendly/environmentally-friendly-articles.aspx] as a family, children and gardening

Author: David Beart
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera News

Increasing usage of wind and solar power is a high priority, but easier said than done. Russ Mitchell shows us a modern-day battle to build a wind farm.

I see there is the recycling triangle with a number inside. What do those mean?
I am talking about plastics.

Introduction

As the founder of the German Green Party, Petra Kelly once said “If we don’t do the impossible, we shall be faced with the unthinkable.” It is time we answered Kelly’s call to action and set into motion the necessary steps to revitalize the earth, such as, integrating recycling programs within local communities. The simple practice of generating new uses for discarded materials conserves natural resources, reduces air pollution, saves energy and downsizes landfills. For example, if everyone in the country recycled a newspaper a week thirty-six million trees a year would be saved.

There are six steps involved with setting up a recycling program in an educational facility:

1. Consult a waste collection service
2. Determine what is needed
3. Gather equipment
4. Organize
5. Roll out the program
6. Maintain program

This guide will outline each of these steps in detail and how to use them to implement a successful recycling program.

Step 1: Consult a Waste Collection Service
Before introducing a program determine what type of recycling is possible for the area. Contact the local municipality and find out who collects waste and recyclables for educational facilities in the area. When contacting the municipality evaluate their customer satisfaction and collection costs.

Each community has a different procedure for collecting recyclables. Find out from the waste hauler what the collection requirements are in the area including:

o What types of materials are collected
o How materials are separated
o What color schemes are used
o What types of containers are accepted
o When are materials collected
o How much does it cost
o What type of areas work with the collection trucks
o What happens when the program requirements change

Step 2: Determine What Is Needed
Determine how much and what type of waste is generated in the school. Apply it to the specifications provided by the hauler and the anticipated level of traffic for the area. Together this information will provide what is needed for the recycling program to run. For example, an elementary school may require mid-sized centralized containers or small desk-side bins for each classroom. The type of recycling bin which will work best will depend on how often it will be emptied, the amount of staff contributing to it, student enrolment, possible janitorial services and the size of the area.

A great way to determine what is needed for a recycling program is by seeking the input and approval of those in the space. Applying the advice of administrative staff, teachers and parents can encourage future program use. It can also ensure that an appropriate recycling program is selected by those who will be using it.

Step 3: Gather Recycling Equipment
Now that the specific needs of the program have been determined the equipment can be purchased. Consult a recycling bin manufacturer for program ideas and container solutions. Ensure that the bins selected are easy to use, efficient and environmentally sound.

Easy to use recycling containers should be versatile and custom designed to work with any environment. There are different bin features available which make participation in a recycling program easier such as:

o Mountable bins for increased surface space
o Desk side bins for increased leg room
o Stackable containers for easy storage
o Large wheeled or lidded containers for easy transportation

Select the container which makes the most sense for the area it will be placed in. Containers should feature the correct combination of visual indicators and sorting mechanisms to maximize the ease in use. Use clearly marked labels, shaped deposit slots and different color options. These tools will allow students, staff and parents to quickly identify what the bin is designed to collect.

Implementing plastic containers which are environmentally sound can assist a recycling program. Select containers which are 100% recyclable, made with a minimum of 35% recycled content and complimented by matching waste baskets. Containers meeting these requirements will maximize the results of a recycling program in an educational facility as they have green solutions built right in.

North American made containers have a reduced impact on the environment. Local products will reduce air pollution resulting from overseas shipping and toxins from foreign containers. Also, if the recycling bins are within arm’s reach they will be easier to replace or distribute in the future should new containers be needed.

Product Recommendations
Busch Systems offers an extensive line of recycling and waste container solutions. The type of bin to select for an educational facility will depend on how it will be used. There are three categories to consider when selecting recycling containers for academic environments: individual, shared and outdoor. Listed below are product recommendations for each category:

a. Individual recycling containers best service areas occupied by one person, such as, teacher’s desks or workstations. The product best suited for this category is the ‘Deskside Recycling Bin’. The container is custom designed to fit seamlessly under desk drawers and can contain upward of three gallons of recyclables. This bin is also available with a matching waste basket which can be hung alongside of it.

b. Recycling containers designed for shared use target common areas, such as, gymnasiums or staff lounges. The ‘Upright’ Series is ideal for such an environment as it is available in large sizes and uses simplified sorting mechanisms. Children and young adults alike favour this container as its see through design allows them to watch the recycling process take place.

c. Outdoor recycling containers are for exterior facility use, such as, building entrances and schoolyards. The ‘Four in One HD’ recycling bin is best suited for this category as it has various collection slot options and fitted liners. This container consists of four compartments which are all able to collect twenty three gallons of waste or recyclables.

These are only a few of the recycling container solutions offered at Busch. To view the complete line of equally attractive alternatives please visit: http://www.buschsystems.com.

Step 4: Organize the Recycling Program

After a container is selected it must be incorporated into a well organized recycling program. The first phase of systematizing is assigning a program coordinator. This should be someone in the facility who is interested in taking charge of the program. Once the coordinator is made aware of their responsibilities they can ensure that the recycling program is always running smoothly.

The new candidate can begin their duties by selecting where the containers should go. When deciding where bins should be placed bear in mind other containers which may be in the environment, traffic, capacity and collection. The scheduling of container collection may be the deciding factor in determining where the bins should go. Placement options may be limited depending on the size of the collection vehicle and the accessibility of the area.

Suggested Green initiatives
Once the collection of recyclable material has been arranged other green initiatives can be considered. Listed below are a few suggestions for green practices which educational facilities can perform:

o Turning off lights when leaving classrooms
o Using electronic communications to submit and distribute assignments and reports
o Encouraging the packing of waste free lunches in reusable containers
o Setting up a compost
o Buying recycled materials and supplies

Step 5: Roll Out Program
Following the development of a recycling program is the execution. In order for the program to run productively the end user must be educated on how it operates and explained what the goals are. Rolling out the initiative will get those sharing the space excited about the program and motivated to use it.
Organize a meeting with all staff at the educational facility. Educate the staff on how the program runs, what the goals are, who the program coordinator is and what everyone’s responsibilities are. Have the staff roll out the program to their students in ways that get them motivated to use it. An elementary school teacher for example, could explain how the program works with the introduction of a reward system based on student participation. The winner could be awarded a miniature recycling container full of treats.

Step 6: Maintain Program
Maintaining a recycling program is a critical component to ensuring its longevity and success. A large part of the upkeep process will be the responsibility of the program coordinator. They will need to constantly monitor the effectiveness of the program and find ways to improve it. The coordinator will also be responsible for keeping those in the facility enthused and new staff or students educated on the program procedures.

There are several ways in which a program coordinator can keep up enthusiasm at a school. For example, the coordinator of a high school could offer incentives to the class and teacher which collects the most recyclables. Having separate incentives for each will encourage teachers to influence student participation. The teachers could motivate students by sending recycling progress reports home and encouraging parents to post them prominently.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the combined usage of the above six steps will enable an educational facility to incorporate an effective recycling program. The program should work toward conserving our natural resources and safeguarding our environment. Ideally, a new recycling program will allow future generations to flourish in what we have instead of flounder in what we have left behind.

Sources:
Alon Tal, Speaking of Earth: Environmental Speeches That Moved The World (USA, 2006) 140.
Waste Reduction Week Canada. 23 Sep. 2009. Environment Canada. http://www.wrwcanada.com

Author: Carla Kostiak
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera News