Task 1: the History of Recycling

Task 1: The History of Recycling

Use this History of Recycling webpage to answer the following questions.

1.  What two things cause recycling to peak?

2.  Recycling aluminum saves what percent of the energy needed to produce it from raw materials?

3.  The modern recycling movement in the United States actually started with a New York garbage barge in 1987. What was the name of the barge?

4.  Why did Morehead City deny the New York barge permission to unload its garbage?

5.  The post-consumer plastics recycling business began in the United States after the city of Berkeley, California banned the use of polystyrene packaging used by what company?

Task 4: Resin Identification Codes

Use this Resin Identification Codes webpage to answer the following questions.

1.  At the moment, what are the only three types of plastics that are economically viable to recycle?

2.  What type of plastic cannot be remelted, but only crushed and used as insulation?

3.  Why can't different types of plastics be mixed together when recycling?

4.  What is the name of the polymer used in soft drink bottles?

5.  What is the name of the polymer used in grocery bags?

6.  What is the name of the polymer used in non-food bottles?

Task 5: Recycling of PET Bottles

Use this Recycling of PET Bottles webpage to answer the following questions.

1.  PET plastics are coded with what number?

2.  Where is the recycle code found on the container?

3.  What post-consumer color fraction costs the most?

4.  What post-consumer color fraction is the least valuable?

5.  After processing, what are pure PET fragments called?

6.  Worldwide, approximately how many tons of PET are collected each year?

Task 6: Materials Recovery Facilitys

Use this Materials Recovery Facility webpage to answer the following questions.

1.  What does a materials recovery facility do?

2.  What is a "clean" MRF?

3.  What is a "dirty" MRF?

4.  What percent of the incoming materials are recovered as recyclables by a dirty MRF?

5.  What happens to the material from a dirty MRF that is not recyclable?

Task 7: Waste Management

Use this Waste Management webpage to answer the following questions.

1.  What are the "3 Rs" of waste management?

2.  What is "source reduction"

3.  What is "extended producer responsibility?

4.  What is the most traditional method of waste disposal?

5.  Compaction, shearing, and grinding are examples of what waste management technique?

6.  What waste management technique is used in "biomass" power stations?