What Happens When Multi-Materials are Recycled? You may have asked yourself the following question. What becomes of all of the stuff that I recycle? Plastics 1,000,000 years for plastic to break down in a landfill. Plastics are made from fossil fuels (oil and natural gas), which are non-renewable resources. There are many different types of plastic produced and not all can be easily recycled. The type of plastic that is used to make the container is identified by the symbol on the bottom of the container. You should try to only buy plastics that can be recycled through your local recycling program. Plastic Recycling Process Recycled plastics are delivered to a local recycling sorting station. Plastic materials are sorted by plastic types. Plastics are ground up into pellets or shredded and cleaned. The cleaned and sorted plastic is sent to a manufacturer who will melt it and mold it into new products. Plastic Type and Symbol Description Products produced when this plastic is recycled This is the most recycled plastic. For bottles for cleaning products or other non-food containers example soft drink Polyethylene Terephthalate egg cartons bottles, honey bottles, strapping liquor bottles, dish surfboards detergent bottles, sailboat hulls medicine bottles. industrial paints fiberfill for sleeping bags, carpet fibers, rope, High Density Polyethylene This is the most widely used household plastic mostly seen in milk, juice, water, vinegar and laundry containers and other products with pillows etc. base cups for soft drink bottles flower pots plastic toys traffic barrier cones
Low Density Polyethylene Polypropylene short shelf lives. This is usually seen in plastic bags, shrink wrap and in some flexible lids and bottles, as well as in wires and cables. It is tough, flexible, and relatively transparent. This plastic is very resistant to chemicals and high temperatures so it is found as a component in tubes, automotive battery casings and long underwear. It is also used to make yogurt containers, straws, pancake syrup bottles, and bottle caps. bottle carriers trash cans detergent bottles garbage bags and grocery bags cellophane wrap disposable diaper liners plastic bags squeeze bottles shipping envelopes floor tiles trash bins auto parts car battery cases bird feeders furniture pails water meter boxes bag dispensers golf equipment carpets recycling containers industrial fibers brooms and brushes ice scrapers bike racks pallets trays The following objects cannot be recycled as they are not plastics 1, 2, 4 or 5 and they will contaminate the recycling process: styrofoam cups coffee lids creamers stir sticks straws plastic plates plastic utensils plastic bags dry cleaning bags containers for o salad o sandwiches o desserts o muffins packages from o ketchup, relish, vinegar and mustard
Cans 100 years for tin to break down and 500 years for aluminum in a landfill. Aluminum cans are made from bauxite and tin-plated steel cans are made of iron ore and tin, which are all nonrenewable resources. However, these products are easily recycled and a great deal of energy is saved when these metals are recycled over and over again. Cans Recycling Process Step 5 The recycled cans (aluminum and steel) are delivered to a recycling facility. The steel cans are separated from the aluminum by large industrial magnets. The separated cans are crushed, baled together and sent to the manufacturers. At the manufacturer mills, the aluminum cans are melted down. The tin-plated steel cans are immersed in a caustic substance that dissolves the tin from the cans. The dissolved tin is then removed from the caustic solution by electrolysis. The three metals, aluminum, steel and tin are shipped to companies who use them to make new products. What are products that can be made from recycled cans? Aluminum cans are melted and made into new aluminum products of all types including: cans, aluminum foil, plates and pie moulds, window frames, garden furniture and automotive components The tin and steel are used to make new tin-coated steel cans or other items such as appliances, cutlery, razor blades. Glass 1,000,000 years for glass to break down in a landfill. Glass is made from soda ash, sand and lime. If it ends up in a landfill, it will take over a million years to breakdown. Therefore, it very important to divert glass from the garbage can to the recycling bin.
Glass Recycling Process Step 5 Recycled glass is delivered to the recycling facility. The glass is separated by colour and crushed. The glass is cleaned by running the fragments through a magnetic system to remove metal pieces and a vacuum system to remove paper or plastic labels. The crushed glass, called cullet, is shipped to manufacturers. The manufacturer melts the cullet and mixes it with virgin raw materials to make new glass containers. The following glass objects cannot be recycled as they contain foreign materials that will contaminate the recycling process: heat-resistant glass cookware ceramics window glass drinking glasses light bulbs What are products that can be made from recycled glass? new glass containers insulation crushed glass (cullet) can be used for the following applications: o landscaping projects o a base for sidewalks o paving and roadway applications such as use in base course, sub-base, sub-grade and embankments. o general backfill applications such as use in supporting heavy static loads, certain dynamic loads (e.g.,. compressors) o drainage applications such as retaining wall back fill, footing drains, drainage blankets and French drains o trench bedding and utility line, wire markers o fill material around underground tanks
Wood Waste Did you know? - Wood waste (wood chips, sawdust and tree bark) is one of the most widely used sources of renewable energy Wood is a renewable resource; however, it is necessary to limit the number of trees that are cut to protect the forest ecosystems. If a piece of wood cannot be reused for something else, then it should be recycled to make new products. Waste wood is delivered to the recycling facility. Recycled wood is shredded, chipped or crushed to make new products. What are products that can be made from recycled wood waste? compost for soil improvement and composting toilets mulch for weed control sawdust for animal bedding wood flour for cleaning up spills wood chips for landscaping or trail stabilization fuel pellets or pressed wood fireplace logs for wood stoves particle board