4'5 Pounds of Trash are produced Per Person Per Day

1
Where Does our Trash Go?
Nationally
27 Recycled 16 Burned 57 Landfilled
Austin
31 Recycled 69 Landfilled
4.5 Pounds of Trash are produced Per Person Per
Day
2
What is in our Waste?
(After Recycling)
Total 151.9 million tons of trash per year
3
What is Recycling?
RECYCLING when an object can be shredded, melted
or otherwise processed and turned into something
new.
4
What can be Recycled
Curbside Recycling
Aluminum Cans Steel Cans Plastics (s 1
2) Paper Cardboard
Recycling just 1 aluminum can saves enough energy
to run a TV for 3 hours.
Remember to Rinse Before Recycling
5
Where to Recycle
Drop off centers
Recyclables are sent to a materials recovery
facility
Curbside
6
Recycling Process
Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Sorting
Packing Recyclables are placed on a conveyor belt
sorted then packed.
Screens separate light and heavy materials
(plastic and glass). Magnets separate tin
cans. An eddy current pulls out aluminum cans.
Paper is often manually separated.
7
Recycling Process
Once separated the materials are compacted, baled
and shipped to a mill.
PLASTICS
PAPER
ALUMINUM
8
Plastic Recycling Process

• Plastics
• made from fossil fuels
• composted of approximately 30 oil and 70
  natural gas
• are non-renewable resources
• symbols at the bottom of the container indicate
  the type of plastic that was used to make the
  container

SHREDDING
PELLETS
9
Glass Recycling Process

• Glass
• mainly glass bottles and jars are recycled
• glass is separated by color, cleaned, and then
  crushed (cullet).
• cullet is melted at 2,700F
• mixed with "virgin" material to make new
  containers

10
Metal Recycling Process

• Metal Containers
• metal containers can be made from recycled
  steel
• an industrial
• sized magnet
• separates the
• steel cans
• separated cans are crushed, baled together, and
  sent on to the appropriate mill
• At the mill
• cans are exposed to high heat and melted down
• resulting material is used to make more products
  from steel or aluminum

When one ton of steel is recycled, 2,500 pounds
of iron ore are conserved.
11
Aluminum Recycling Process

• Aluminum Containers
• metal containers can be made from aluminum
• the recycler separates the aluminum by using an
  Eddy Current an electric current that repels
  the aluminum
• separated cans are crushed, baled together, and
  sent on to the appropriate mill
• At the mill
• cans are exposed to high heat and melted down
• resulting material is used to make more products
  from aluminum

Recycled Al cans saves 95 of the energy used
from producing Al cans from ore.
12
Recycling Results
Making New from Old

• Glass is grounded to make second sand which is
  used in roadways, sand traps at swimming
  pools and golf courses, and parking lots.
• Plastic is melted and converted to new plastic
  containers.
• Newspapers are shredded to make insulation or
  more paper.
• Phone Books are shredded to make shoeboxes,
  cereal boxes and napkins.

13
Reduce Waste
CLASS PROJECTS!
Composting
Recycling Campaign
Waste Audit
Recycle at a School Event
Cleanup a Creek
Cleanup Litter on Your Campus
14
Reduce Your Waste
TAKE ACTION AS AN INDIVIDUAL!

• Reuse plastic jug container to create planting
  containers.
• Use both sides of a piece of paper.
• Use cloth towels instead of paper towels.
• Wash food containers to store leftovers.
• Donate clothes to Goodwill, younger siblings or
  thrift stores.
• Use rechargeable batteries for toys and games.
• Avoid plastic and paper cups, utensils and
  plates.
• Repair stereos and computers to be used again.
• Pack your lunch in a cloth bag or lunch box.
• Buy items that have already been recycled.
• Buy products with minimal packaging.

Packaging makes up 50 of our waste by volume
15
Recycle More than the Basics

• Computers - Goodwill
• Bikes www.austinyellowbike.org
• Plastic Bags
• at your local grocery store
• www.envirobag.com
• Styrofoam www.cycledplastics.com
• Print Cartridges Cell Phones
• www.envirosmart.com
• www.etcep.com
• www.freerecycling.com