Recycling Hub » Recycling a Product

Do I need to separate my recycling materials?

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:57:07 +0000

We often get confused that we carefully sort out papers and plastic recycles and put them in different bins and then find out that the trash collectors just threw them into their truck without any separation. The question is, do we really need separate the recycles?

The good news is, not really. We can put all recycles in the same bins. After the waste management truck dumps them to a materials recovery facility, they will be sorted and prepared into marketable commodities for manufacturing.

Once cleaned and separated, the recyclables are ready to undergo the second part of the recycling loop. Common household items that can be recycled are newspapers and paper towels; aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers; steel cans; and plastic laundry detergent bottles.

Did you know that recycled materials can also are used in innovative applications such as recovered glass in roadway asphalt (glassphalt) or recovered plastic in carpeting, park benches, and pedestrian bridges?

Source: EPA

Use plastic egg containers for children’s paint project

admin — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:07:09 +0000

Having to keep grandchildren busy during rainy days, I like to pull out the childrens paints, but you can imagine how messy it can be unless you have an easy way to put different colours of paint in a non spill environment. Well the best thing I have found is the plastic egg containers that are very popular with Omega 3 eggs. When you flip it open you actually have 24 spots for paint. Kids love it and there’s no mess.

Make your own greenhouse using recycled plastic bottles

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:11:21 +0000

Why not make your own greenhouse using recycled plastic bottles. First you need to build a timber frame to the size of the greenhouse you desire, do not forget that you will need to make a frame for a door!

Then collect lots and lots of plastic bottles. 2L bottles are ideal and you will need to use bottles that have straight sides, shaped bottles will not work for this. Whichever size you choose don’t forget that all your bottles will need to be of the same size.

My greenhouse took approximately 1,500 bottles to make) Simply cut off the bottom of each bottle and then thread them onto metal rods, you will need to make sure they are all threaded on in the same direction so that the top of each bottle fits snug into the underside of next bottle. Next fix metal rods (top and bottom) to framework, butting up each column of bottles to the next until all walls and the door are created. The use of a few coloured plastic bottles above the door will give an interesting stained glass effect!

Steps to Recycling a Product

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:02:15 +0000

Recycling includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers, manufacturing raw materials into new products, and purchasing recycled products.

Collecting and processing secondary materials, manufacturing recycled-content products, and then buying recycled products creates a circle or loop that ensures the overall success and value of recycling.

Step 1. Collection and Processing
Collecting recyclables varies from community to community, but there are four primary methods: curbside, drop-off centers, buy-back centers, and deposit/refund programs.

Regardless of the method used to collect the recyclables, the next leg of their journey is usually the same. Recyclables are sent to a materials recovery facility to be sorted and prepared into marketable commodities for manufacturing. Recyclables are bought and sold just like any other commodity, and prices for the materials change and fluctuate with the market.

Step 2. Manufacturing
Once cleaned and separated, the recyclables are ready to undergo the second part of the recycling loop. More and more of today’s products are being manufactured with total or partial recycled content. Common household items that contain recycled materials include newspapers and paper towels; aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers; steel cans; and plastic laundry detergent bottles. Recycled materials also are used in innovative applications such as recovered glass in roadway asphalt (glassphalt) or recovered plastic in carpeting, park benches, and pedestrian bridges.

Step 3. Purchasing Recycled Products
Purchasing recycled products completes the recycling loop. By “buying recycled,” governments, as well as businesses and individual consumers, each play an important role in making the recycling process a success. As consumers demand more environmentally sound products, manufacturers will continue to meet that demand by producing high-quality recycled products. Learn more about recycling terminology and to find tips on identifying recycled products.

Source: http://www.epa.gov