Environmental ResourcesUnit A

Understanding Recycling and its Relationship to the Environment

What is Recycling?

What are the advantages to recycling?

What are the disadvantages to recycling?

Which one outweighs or is more important than the other?

Learning Objectives Understand the recycling process. Understand the importance of

recycling. Identify ways in which people can

make a difference through recycling. Identify items that can be recycled. Understand the composting process.

Terms Compost Composting Microbes Natural

Resources Nonrenewable

natural resources

Recycling Remanufacturing Renewable

natural resources Reusing

I. Recycling

A. Reusing a product or using waste materials to make a new product

B. In recycling, products are broken down, reprocessed, and returned to active use instead of being discarded

I. Recycling

C. Key component of waste management and is vital to the conservation of natural resources1. In addition, recycling will save

energy and extend the life span of landfills

D. As the population has increased in the United States, the amount of waste generated has increased dramatically 1. As landfills begin to fill, recycling is

quickly becoming a necessity

I. Recycling

II. Reusing

A. Using a product again without remanufacturing

B. A form of recycling

C. Cleaning a glass bottle after use and refilling it is a good example of reusing a product

III. Remanufacturing

A. Making a previously used product into another product

B. A form of recycling

C. For example, aluminum, steel, plastic, and glass containers can all be melted down and reformed into new containers

IV. Importance of RecyclingA. Reduces pollution by reducing the

demand for the incineration of waste and by reducing the manufacturing of new items

B. Saves energy1. It takes half as much energy to make a

recycled newspaper as it takes to make fresh newsprint from trees

IV. Importance of RecyclingC. Saves money

1. For example, scrap aluminum is about half the price of raw aluminum

D. Helps to save landfill space, which is very important due to the fact that waste continues to increase as the population grows1. The ability to develop new landfill sites

will continue to become increasingly more difficult

IV. Importance of Recycling

E. Helps in the creation of jobs due to the need to separate and remanufacture the waste

V. Recycling

A. Practicing the four R’s anyone can make a difference Reduce Reuse Recycle Rebuy

B. Reduce1. Reduce the amount of waste created 2. Give away or sell things that are no

longer used, instead of throwing them away

3. Compost yard waste

B. Reduce4. Use paper on both sides5. Borrow things that you don’t use very

often, instead of buying them6. Don’t use disposable utensils, cups,

and plates

C. Reuse

1. Using products more than once 2. Reuse glass containers to store

food3. Pack lunches in reusable

containers instead of using lunch sacks

4. Use grocery bags to hold garbage instead of buying garbage bags

D. Recycle

1. Changing one product into another

2. If items are not reusable, then be sure to recycle the product if at all possible

E. Rebuy

1. Buying products made from recycled materials

2. Buying recycled products completes the cycle

3. If you don’t buy recycled products, it defeats the purpose of recycling

F. Recyclable Items1. Aluminum

a. About two-thirds of all aluminum cans in the United States are recycled

2. Paper products a. Nearly half of all wastepaper in the

United States is recycled

3. Glassa. separate the colors b. Colored glass should not be mixed with

clear glass

F. Recyclable Items4. Plastic

a. It typically takes 200 to 400 years to decay in a landfill

b. Plastic items are coded based on the type of plastic used in making the product - in order to recycle plastic, it must be sorted by codes

F. Recyclable Items

5. Metalsa. Metal from old cars can be recycled

F. Recyclable Items

6. Oil dumped into a water source or on the ground could cause pollution problems

7. It is recommended that used oils are collected and recycled

VI. CompostingA. A waste management technique in

which organic matter (dead plants and animals) is decomposed through the action of microbes (bacteria and fungi) and other decomposers such as earthworms

B. Compost can be used as a soil amendment to enrich or improve the consistency of soil

VI. Composting

C. Composting turns organic matter, such as grass clippings, fallen leaves, or food waste into a rich, natural fertilizer

D. Composting Process1. Requires organic matter,

decomposers, water, and oxygen 2. When compost bins have sufficient

water and air, bacteria will thrive a. Bacteria can generate temperatures of

up to 150° Fahrenheit

3. Compost bins vary in design and construction – can be made of wood, plastic, or concrete walls

D. Composting Process5. A mixture of several materials

including partially decomposed animal manure promotes bacterial action, which leads to quicker decomposition

6. Adding water increase decomposition

7. Composting can be used on a large scale by waste disposal systems or on a small scale by people at their homes

Review / Summary

Explain the recycling process. Explain the importance of

recycling. Identify ways in which people can

make a difference through recycling.

Identify items that can be recycled.