New Uses of Refuses
Where does our trash go? Americans generate approximately 7.5 pounds of trash per day. 300 million Americans X 7.5 lbs of trash 2,250,000,000 lbs. of trash each day
Anatomy of a Landfill
What is Recycling? Recycling is the reprocessing of old materials into new products.
Why is Recycling Important? As Earth Citizens, we are responsible for preserving and protecting our natural resources for ourselves and future generations. Recycling is one of the easiest ways to help slow climate change and global warming by significantly lowering carbon emissions associated with the extracting, processing and transporting of virgin materials.
Benefits of Recycling Saves Energy Stimulates the economy Protects air and water quality Saves land space Saves money $$ Instills community stewardship Creates jobs
How Long Does It Last? Orange peel 2 weeks to 6 months Paper 2 months to 40 years Milk carton 5 years Cigarette butt 10 to 12 years Plastic bag 10 to 20 years Disposable diaper 75 years Tin can 100 years Aluminum can 200 to 500 years Glass never Styrofoam - never
200 years later in the landfill.. What did the glass bottle say to the steel can?
Answer: Are you steel here?
How much energy is saved by recycling? Glass 5% Cardboard 24% Newspapers 34% Plastic 88% Aluminum 95%
Raw Materials Aluminum bauxite ore, feldspars Glass - sand Newspaper - timber Plastic - petroleum
Pathway for Aluminum Production
How Recycling Works 3 parts to recycling process: 1) Collection begins at home 2) Manufacturing markets for recyclables 3) Purchasing begins in your wallet
Please explain PET!!
What are the recyclable plastics? PET 1 Polyethylene terephthalate soft drink bottles, peanut butter containers PE-HD High density polyethylene shampoo bottles, buckets, ice cream containers PVC U Un-plasticized polyvinyl chloride cosmetic containers, plumbing pipes PVC P Plasticized polyvinyl chloride garden hoses, shoe soles PE- LD Low density polyethylene glad wrap, garbage bags, squeeze bottles PP Polypropylene - potato chip bags, straws PS Polystyrene CD cases, plastic cutlery, video cases PS-E Expanded Polystyrene styrofoam cups, plates, take-out containers Other car parts, appliance parts, electronics, packaging
SCAMPER How can we be more recycle-friendly? S Substitute vase C Create make into a gift by craftwork A Adapt insect cage M Modify - measuring cup P Produce stained glass E Evaluate compare other containers R Recycle reprocess into recycled glass
Interesting End Products Glass roads, marbles, decorative tiles, surfboards PET Plastic (five soda bottles) one extra large t-shirt, one square foot of carpet, enough fiber to fill one ski jacket Aluminum/Steel cans cars, bikes, appliances, cookware
How can You reduce reuse and recycle? Paper or Plastic grocery stores recycling bins Batteries Radio Shack Books donate to local Thrift Store/schools/libraries Carpet Blue Ridge Carpet recycling Cars donate to local charity Cartridges - Staples Ceiling Tiles 1-888-Ceilings Cell phones - Staples Chemicals Household Hazardous Waste
Clothing donate to local charity Clothes hangers contact local dry cleaner Computers - Staples Construction waste Material Reclamation/Habitat for Humanity Eye glasses contact local optometrist Film canisters Wal-Mart, Camera stores Furniture local thrift store Greeting cards Johnston County ECA Packing Material contact local packaging store Shoes Nike s Reuse a Shoe 1-800-352-NIKE Yard waste Johnston County Landfill OTHER - Craigslist
Recycling Facts Recycling one tin can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours Recycling one aluminum can saves enough gasoline to fill the can up halfway Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours One 20 year old tree makes 785 paper bags Packaging accounts for more than 30% of your garbage 40% of all waste in landfills is paper
More recycling facts One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year American throw away 25 trillion styrofoam cups each year Making recycled paper uses 64% less energy and uses 58% less water
Let s Do Our Part! Breyers Ice Cream Container save coins, decorate and use as floral arrangement container, organizers, seed starters, use as building blocks for children Garden hoses make a soaker hose, water mixer, bucket handle, corner protector, blade guard Cardboard tubes cross-stitch storage, paintbrush carrier, storage for pantyhose, children's bracelets, grocery bag storage, make rain sticks, binoculars, fire starters
Waste Free Lunch Paper plate holder plastic/wicker 2-3 Large washable napkins Compost bin for biodegradables Laundry bag for used napkins Trash bin for non biodegradables
Thank you for helping to make America sustainable!