recycling right and the problem with plastics
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Welcome to Week Five
We will begin shortly.
Recycling Right and the Problem with Plastics
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PJ Lee,Snohomish County
Joanie Chaiten
a. Rubbermaid – any food containersb. Biotru – Any brand contact lens solution caps (no bottles)
and contact lens casesc. Biotru (drop off) – contact lens and blister packs
i. Eyes Rite Optical 620 SE Everett Mall Way 425-355-2377
d. Subaru Shorelinei. Cups, lids, strawsii. Snack wrappersiii. Kpodsiv. Disposable plastic-based masks including 3-ply
surgical, dust masks, KN95, and N95 masksv. Disposable vinyl, nitrile, and latex gloves
e. Nordstrom – All brands of beauty product and skincare packaging
i. Pump caps, hair spray triggers, lipstick cases, eyeliner pencils, and mascara tubes
ReviewFood Waste and
CompostingReduce
Feed People in Need
Feed Animals
Compost
Disposal
Tonight's Learning Goals
I can recall details from our previous learning
I can change actions going forward, based on assessment of current practices
I can share my experience with others to encourage action
I can identify the 3 main rules of recycling that apply everywhere
I understand the meaning of the numbers in the chasing arrows
I know where to look to learn what is recyclable in my area
I can identify many problems with how our society uses plastics
I can make a household/personal waste audit plan
HOME FOOD WASTE AUDIT
HOW did it GO?
Food Waste Audit Reflection
• 3 tasks. Assign one to each person• What did you learn (3 items)?• What will you change (3 items)?• What/How will you share with others (1 item)?
Break out Groups (15 minutes)
• 3 things you learned• 3 things you will change• 1 way you could share
Share (2 minutes/group)
RecyclingRight
Why does it matter?
How do we do it?
Outline• The Elephant in the Room
• Value of recycling
• Materials, industry, and recycled products
• Why are we behind the 8-ball?
• Our recycling path - collection and MRF's
• What can we recycle
• What contaminates?
• Recycle and again?
Goal: To increase knowledge of the recycling process, giving you more tools in your waste reduction toolbelt.
Is it really recycled? It depends...
Why is recycling important?1. Natural Resources
Recycling 1 ton of paper saves:• 17 mature trees• 7000 gallons of water• 3 cubic yards of landfill space• 2 barrels of oil• 4100 kilowatt-hours of electricity
Raw vs Recycled Production Energy• Steel 60%• Aluminum 95%• Newspaper 40%• Plastics 70%• Glass 40%
94% of natural resources used by Americans are non-renewable
Scrap steel vs virgin ore: 40% less water, 97% less mining waste
Why is recycling important?• 681,000 jobs
• $37.8 billion in wages; and
• $5.5 billion in tax revenues.
EPA,2020
2. Economy
Why is recycling important?
LandfilledIncinerated Recycled
10,000 pounds
of waste
1 job 6 jobs 36 jobs
Dept. Of Health and Human Services
More on economy
Why is recycling important?
Decreases the following:•Pressure on landfills•Currently over 2000 landfills•Contain toxins, generate gases, create leachate -new mining
•Pollution•Production waste•Damage from resource extraction•Habitat destruction
3. Environment
Where do our recyclable commodities go?
Global Review ofRecycling
50-60% of West Coast Commodities went to China.
Why?
China Green Fence – 2013
China National Sword - 2017
ContaminationBan 24 typesLimited import licensesDecreased contamination rates to 0.03%
Our rate?
The RecyclingIndustry and Markets
• RecyclingBusiness• Supply anddemand
The Recycling Markets
•Mixed plastics 3-7 $0/ton•Aluminum cans $1k/ton•Plastic bottles $234/ton
How are we doing?
The Importance of Buying Recycled-Content Products
Helps create a demand for recycled content
Diverts materials from landfills
Saves natural resources
Doesn't result in environmental damage
Pre vs. Post-Consumer products
How many times can materials be recycled?
• Aluminum – Infinite• Metals- Infinite• Glass - infinite• Cardboard – many times• Paper – copier paper, 5-7 times• Paper – Newsprint, a few times• Plastic –1-2 times• EPS- same of plastic
Recycling Lingo
Single Stream –All items are co-mingled
Dual Stream -Separate your paper & containers
Source Separated
Self-haul vs. Curbside collection from "Haulers"
Where does it go fromthe curb?•Materials RecoveryFacility (aka MRF) suchas WasteManagement's CascadeRecycling Center
A Few of Our local "Haulers"
Compare Our Local Landfill...
Compare – Recycling Center Tipping Floor
Contamination• Items that reduce value of other items or are not recyclable.
Impact of Contamination•RESULTS IN GOOD ITEMS BEING LANDFILLED
•Drives up costs
•Causes machinerymaintenance issues
•Unsafe work environments
•Reduces quality ofCommodity
•Damages recyclingperception
Most commoncontaminants
•Plastic bags
• Food Waste/dirty
•Wrong type of plastics
•Small paper/shredded paper
•Hazardous wastes
•Bio-Hazards
• Juice/soup boxes and frozen foodcontainers
Reasons for Contamination
•Confusion
•Lack of Understanding
•Good intensions aka
"wish-cycling"
or "wish-recycling")
Follow Your Guide
What is accepted?
Remember: Items must be Empty, Clean, & Dry
Unsure? When it doubt, check it out or throw it out!
What is accepted?
"But we used to recyclethese"
Unacceptable Materials
• Medical waste
• Ammunition
• Hazardous material• Batteries• Fuel• Oils• Explosives
• Tire Chains
• Waxed cardboard• Food soiled paper• Tissue paper• Plastic bags• Compostable items
• Christmas Lights/rope –special collections
• Items not on yourlocal recycling guide
• Small Appliances – tryrepair rather than replace
Contaminants!
The Problem with Plastics
Jerilyn Ritzman
THE HOUSEHOLD WASTE AUDIT
Simple Waste Audit
1. Prepare
2. Collect
3. Sort
4. Measure
5. Record
6. Reflect
Questions to ask
yourself
•How many days? 1 day, 3 days, 4 days, 6 days, 30 days?
•Personal only, household, include outside of home waste?
•Measuring daily or at the end of the audit?
•Measuring by quantity or weight, or both?
SUPPLIES• Containers (3)
• Landfill• Recycle• Recyclable, not curbside
• Your local recycling list• Tarp or other• Gloves• Data Sheet• Scale (if available)• Reflection notebook or log• Camera4 days
Tip 1: Choose 2 workdays and 2 weekend daysTip 2: Remember to rinse food items well
Prepare and Collect
VERY IMPORTANT
Tips• Sort on a floor that can be
cleaned if leaks happen• Make some cookies, have a
glass of wine, invite a neighbor
Ecycle
REuse Glass Plastics
REcycle Mixed Paper HHW
Landill Cardboard
Separate into
Sort
RECORD
Reflect
What did you learn?
What are you going to do as a result of your learning?
How might you communicate this new experience to others?
Final Notes &
Deliverables
1. Pre-survey for Gisela's project
2. Email a photo or slide of "What's Your Why?"
3. Household Waste Audit
Contact Information
uHeather Teegarden
Sustainable Community Stewards
WSU Snohomish County Extension
w. (425) 357-6027
Heather.teegarden@wsu.edu
uSarah Bergquist
Waste Wise Program – Whidbey Island
WSU Island County Extension
w. (360) 639-6062
sarah.bergquist@wsu.edu
uJerilyn Ritzman
Waste Wise Program – Camano Island
WSU Island County Extension
w. (360) 639-4608
jerilyn.ritzman@wsu.edu
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