Recycling For Dummies

source site Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 Getting Started with Recycling Chapter 1 Reviewing the Elements of Recycling Understanding the Recycling Cycle Making the Case for Recycling Protecting our parks, oceans, and wildlife Reducing risks to communities Minimizing our carbon footprint Securing the future for our children Getting Started with Recycling Appreciating your role in the solution Knowing how to get started Taking small steps Accepting that things aren’t perfect Uncovering the life cycle of everyday items Recognizing recyclable materials Keeping contamination low Finding specialist recyclers Buying back your waste Chapter 2 Getting to Know Your Waste Defining “Waste” Exploring the Types of Waste Seeing What Happens to Waste Recycling Composting Waste to energy Landfill Applying the Waste Hierarchy Avoiding as a way to reduce waste Reusing things before they become waste Recycling or composting waste Recovering the energy from waste Sending waste to landfills Chapter 3 Understanding the Problem with Waste What a Waste Looking at the life cycle of everyday materials Taking until there’s no more Understanding how materials degrade Knowing that there’s no such thing as “away” The Environmental Costs of Too Much Waste Filling our oceans Endangering our wildlife Getting stuck or tangled Eating plastic Examining effects on ecosystems Poisoning our soils Polluting our air The Social Costs of Too Much Waste Our Plastic Planet Seeing that plastic is here to stay Homing in on microplastics Surveying single-use plastics The Impact of Waste on Climate Change Accelerating climate with our leftovers Carelessly sending energy to landfills Producing greenhouse gases Burning our waste Chapter 4 Making Sense of Recycling Figuring Out What It Means to Recycle Discovering the Different Recycling Services Diving Deeper into Curbside Recycling Collecting curbside recycling Distinguishing single-stream and multi-stream services Looking at the role of waste transfer stations Going inside a material recycling facility Processing and manufacturing bales Exploring Specialist Recycling Understanding what’s different from curbside services Discovering specialist recycling options Recognizing Why Some Things Aren’t Recycled Seeing that recycling contamination leads to landfills Finding end markets for recycled material Shipping recyclables abroad Calling out unscrupulous operators Examining the Cost of Recycling Knowing who’s paying for recycling Using EPR to finance the future Looking into the economic benefits of recycling Pushing or pulling — it’s a balance Part 2 Grasping Curbside Recycling Chapter 5 Conquering the Basics of Curbside Recycling Uncovering Why Recycling Rules Vary So Much Unscrambling Recycling Symbols Misunderstanding recycling labels The universal recycling symbol or Mobius loop The inverted Mobius loop The Tidyman symbol The Green Dot Plastic Resin Identification Codes Getting to know the new labeling The How2Recycle labeling The On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Defining and recognizing greenwashing Breaking Free from Bad Habits Changing your view of curbside recycling Starting out by keeping it simple Preventing wishcycling Following one important guideline: When in doubt, leave it out Checking Out Common Rules Separating items by material Keeping contamination low Understanding how contamination occurs Identifying items that don’t belong Leaving items loose Knowing how much to clean Understanding that size does matter Asking whether you should flatten items Getting Help When You Need It Chapter 6 Deciphering Curbside Plastic Recycling Beginning with the Basics: What Is Plastic? Plastic’s typical traits Resources used to make plastic How plastic is made A different type: Plastic from plants Ways to degrade: Biodegradable, compostable, or just plain plastic Understanding Why You Should Recycle Plastic Seeing How Plastic Is Recycled Figuring Out Why All Plastics Can’t Be Recycled Knowing What Plastic Items Can and Can’t Be Recycled Recognizing rigid and soft plastics Using the plastic Resin Identification Codes Asking about the local plastic rules Following a few guidelines for plastic Knowing what plastic goes in Keeping some plastic items out Checking on a few unusual plastic items Pulling it all together Reducing Your Consumption of Plastic with Single-Use Swaps Making an Impact with Plastic Items at the Checkout Chapter 7 Mastering Paper and Cardboard Recycling Beginning with the Basics: What Is Paper? Looking at resources used to make paper Making new paper Checking out common types of paper Understanding Why You Should Recycle Paper Seeing How Paper Is Recycled Exploring the steps of paper recycling Keeping paper free from contamination Knowing What Paper Products Can and Can’t Be Recycled Asking about local paper rules Following a few guidelines for paper Knowing what paper goes in Keeping some paper items out Checking on a few unusual paper items Pulling it all together Reducing Your Consumption of Paper Making an Impact on Your Paper Use at the Checkout Chapter 8 Recognizing Recyclable Glass Beginning with the Basics: What Is Glass? Resources used to make glass Taking, making, and wasting glass Common types of glass Understanding Why You Should Recycle Glass Seeing How Glass Is Recycled The steps of glass recycling Why some curbside services don’t collect glass The trouble with different glass colors Knowing What Glass Items Can and Can’t Be Recycled Asking about local glass rules Following a few guidelines for glass Knowing what glass items go in Keeping some glass items out Checking on a few unusual glass items Pulling it all together Looking at Specialist Glass Recycling Reducing Your Consumption of Glass Making an Impact with Glass Items at the Checkout Chapter 9 Identifying Metals and Where to Recycle Them Beginning with the Basics: What Are Metals? Resources used to make metals How metals are made Common types of metals and metal alloys Understanding Why You Should Recycle Metals Preserving natural resources Decreasing carbon emissions Preserving the environment Looking at How Metal Is Recycled Knowing What Metal Items Can and Can’t Be Recycled Asking about local metal rules Following a few guidelines for metal Identifying your metals Seeing what metal items go in Keeping some metal items out Checking on a few unusual metal items Pulling it all together Surveying Specialist Metal Recycling Services Collecting for container deposits Making money at the scrapyard Reducing Your Consumption of Metals Chapter 10 Making Sense of Multilayer Materials Breaking Down Multilayer Materials Focusing on the functions of different layers and materials Understanding why products have multilayer materials Appreciating the recycling challenges Recycling Common Multilayer Materials Cartons for liquids and Tetra Paks Plastic-coated food cartons Standup or squeezable pouches Personal product packaging Single-use multilayer packaging Envelopes and mailers Part 3 Finding Solutions in Specialist Recycling Chapter 11 Starting with Soft Plastics Defining Soft Plastics Resources used to make soft plastics How soft plastics are made Understanding the Benefits of Recycling Soft Plastics The impacts of soft plastic waste How recycling soft plastic helps the environment Seeing How Soft Plastics Are Recycled The steps of soft plastic recycling Why most curbside programs don’t include soft plastics Knowing Which Soft Plastics Can and Can’t Be Recycled Identifying soft plastics versus rigid plastics Asking about the local rules for soft plastics Following a few soft plastic guidelines Knowing what soft plastics go in Keeping some soft plastics out Noting what soft plastic items to check Locating soft plastic recycling facilities Pulling it all together Using Less Soft Plastic Purchasing Recycled Soft Plastic Products Chapter 12 Composting to Reduce Food Waste Defining Food Waste Knowing Why You Should Care About Food Waste Resources used in making food Food production’s impacts on the environment Clearing Up Confusion Over Labeling Grasping food date meanings Figuring out when food is no longer edible Reducing Your Food Waste Planning ahead Saving your leftovers Switching to frozen foods Preventing spoilage Recycling Your Food Waste How food waste is recycled Curbside recycling services for food waste Options for recycling at home Starting a Home Compost How do you set up a compost at home? What can go in your compost? What can’t go in your home compost? Chapter 13 Exploring E-Waste Recycling Solutions Defining E-Waste Tackling the E-Waste Problem Understanding how recycling e-waste helps the environment Mining materials in electronic devices Recognizing that toxic materials lurk in your gadgets Knowing that e-waste doesn’t belong in the bin Exploring How E-Waste Is Recycled Seeing the dangers of informally recycling e-waste Recycling e-waste the right way Responsibly Disposing of Your E-Waste Considering selling or donating your item Repairing your item to keep it in use Recycling your item responsibly Finding an e-waste recycler near you Examining Battery Recycling Understanding why you should recycle batteries Knowing which batteries can be recycled Disposable batteries Rechargeable batteries Finding your nearest drop-off point Using fewer batteries Reducing Your Overall E-Waste Impact Taking care of your devices Deciding whether to purchase a new device Choosing the right device Is the product easy to repair? Is the product made to last? Is the brand responsible and ethical? Chapter 14 Scouting Other Recycling Programs Scrapping Your Household Metal Items Safely Disposing of Hazardous Waste Recycling Light Bulbs and String Lights Ensuring That Your Car Tires Get Recycled Recycling Other Stuff in and Around Your House Fashion and other textiles Mattresses Old plant pots Toner ink cartridges Polystyrene Crayons Diapers Carpets Part 4 Knowing That Recycling Won’t Save the Planet on Its Own Chapter 15 Changing Our Behaviors for the Sake of Future Generations Reducing How Much You Consume Saying no when it matters Addressing our throwaway lifestyle with reusable items Exploring refillable products Finding what you need secondhand Borrowing things when you need them Renting what you need Keeping Materials in Use Looking after what you already have Finding a new home for items Giving items a second life Giving Zero Waste a Go Recognizing That Recycling Starts at the Store Maintaining Your Efforts for the Long Haul Chapter 16 Buying Recycled: Supporting Brands Turning Trash into Treasure Voting with Your Wallet Knowing That Recycled Is Just as Good Evaluating quality Comparing costs Finding Recycled Products Some handy terminology Tips for finding recycled products Packaging with recycled content Examples of recycled products Seeking Out Good Brands Sending a Message in Other Ways Chapter 17 Highlighting Other Ways to Get Involved Stepping Up Your Personal Efforts Organizing a waste audit Preparing for your waste audit Conducting your waste audit Analyzing your waste data Setting up a recycling station at home Running a neighborhood collection Taking Action Beyond the Curb Joining a local cleanup Volunteering at your local Repair Café Supporting local and federal action Backing environmental groups Chapter 18 Considering the Future of Recycling Redesigning Products for Recyclability Transforming the Recycling Process Improving existing systems Potentially solving plastic problems with chemical recycling Replicating enzymes to munch on plastic Driving Change Through Policy Demanding recycled content in new products Following in the footsteps of the European Union Working Together to Achieve a Truly Circular Economy Part 5 The Part of Tens Chapter 19 Ten Recycling Myths Debunked Recycling Is a Scam, and Nothing Gets Recycled Anyway Recycling Is Too Complicated If You Throw It in Your Curbside Recycling Bin, It’ll Get Recycled Curbside Is the Only Recycling Option If There’s a Recycling Symbol, It Must Be Recyclable Materials Can Be Recycled Only Once It Takes More Energy to Recycle Than to Make Something New Waste Decomposes Quickly in a Landfill You Should Bag Recyclables Products Made from Recycled Content Are Inferior Chapter 20 Ten Things You Thought You Couldn’t Recycle but Can Batteries Your Mobile Phone Ink Cartridges Chewing Gum Toothpaste Tubes Coffee Pods Sneakers Wet Suits Stockings and Pantyhose Skis, Poles, and Boots Chapter 21 Ten Things That Don’t Belong in Your Curbside Recycling Bin Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics Polystyrene Foam Dirty or Wet Cardboard Paper Towels and Tissues Broken Glass Soft Plastics Food Waste Electronic Devices Clothes and Textiles Light Bulbs Appendix Waste Audit Worksheets Index EULA