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How-To Booklet: Recycling |
| The Recycling Process |
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In an integrated waste management system, recyclables, are sorted from solid waste, processed, and reused. Material that can't be recycled is incinerated. Yard and natural waste is composted. Landfills are used to dispose of any material that can't be recycled, composted, or incinerated (Figure 1).
In most programs, broken glass, lead crystal, ceramic products, tampered window or plate glass, glasses, mirrors, and heat resistant glass are not accepted. They can seriously damage a glass furnace and/or result in poor quality of the recycled glass products. The plastics industry has developed a coding system to help costumers identify different types of plastic. The codes can be found on the bottoms of some plastic containers (Figure 2).
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| Collecting Recyclables |
| Residents usually participate in a multi-bin program. Here residents place seperate materials into the appropriate bin for collection. Sometimes, special recycling trucks with several compartments are used to keep materials sorted. |
| Other Recyclables and Trash |
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Many communities have special hazardous waste drop off centers or periodic curbside pick up dates. Contact your local recycling officials for more information.
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