How to Recycle Special Recycling History & Numbers Your Bin Random Facts

Question Which ONE of these items cannot be recycled at home? a) Aluminum Canb) Hamburger Bun c) Newspaperd) Glass Bottle

Answer 1 – 10 b) Hamburger Bun

Question True or False? You need to clean recyclable items before putting them in the bin. (Example: yogurt container) a) Trueb) False

Answer 1 – 20 a)True Food debris must be washed out of containers before recycling

Question True or False? Milk cartons are recyclable. a) Trueb) False

Answer 1 – 30 a)True Just rinse before putting in the bin!

Question List 5 items that CANNOT be recycled in your bin * Giveaway: Food waste only counts as one!

Answer 1 – 40 Drinking Glasses, Ceramics, Mirrors, Window Glass, Scrap Metal, Food Scraps, Light bulbs, Hazardous Waste (cleaning supplies, bleach, paint, etc.), motor oil bottles, hypodermic needles, medical waste, plastic bags, styrofoam, yard waste, electronics Any more?

Question These numbers are found on plastics Which number cannot be recycled?

Answer 1 – 50 #6 Plastics

Question Fill in the gap: Old clothes cannot be recycled but they can be

Answer 2 – 10 Donated! Acceptable answers include: reused, taken to a thrift store Any others?

Question True or False? Plastic grocery bags CAN be recycled in your bin. a) Trueb) False

Answer 2 – 20 b) False But they can be reused as small garbage bin liners, or, if clean, taken to your local grocery store

Question All of these items can be recycled at special recycling events, except ONE. Which one? a)Batteriesc) Food waste b)Light bulbsd) Electronics

Answer 2 – 30 c) Food Waste But you can compost it in your backyard!

Question For further information regarding recycling who is suggested to contact in the City of Bloomington?

Answer 2 – 40 The Ecology Action Center

Question Why is it important to find alternative methods of recycling special items including: batteries, light bulbs, extra paint, bleach, etc.

Answer 2 – 50 In time, landfills leach toxic fluid into our water. And we don’t want to drink that water. Acceptable Answers: Human health, the environment, etc.

Question When did Bloomington residents begin to see their curbside bins delivered? a)They haven’t yetc) June 1930 b)November 2012d) May 2000

Answer 3 – 10 b) November 2012 You can order a cart now!

Question True or False? Americans go through 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. a) Trueb) False

Answer 3 – 20 a) True

Question True or False? The first recycling program in the United States was established in New York City. a) Trueb) False

Answer 3 – 30 a)True The first recycling program was established in New York City in the 1890’s

Question How long will a TV be powered by recycling one can? a) 7 hoursc) 2 minutes b) 30 minutesd) 3 hours

Answer 3 – 40 d) 3 hours The energy saved by recycling one can is enough to power a television for three hours!

Question How long does it take a piece of plain paper to decompose? a)30 daysc) 2 years b)5 yearsd) it won’t

Answer 3 – 50 c) Two years This is the average decomposition rate for paper. The rate at which it decomposes is based on a great number of factors.

Question How often is recycling picked up from the curbside? a)Every other weekc) Once a month b)Weeklyd) Daily

Answer 4 – 10 a) Every other week

Question True or False? You have to separate the recyclable items in your bin. a) Trueb) False

Answer 4 – 20 b) False Bloomington uses a single-stream recycling program– meaning all recyclable materials go in one bin!

Question Who owns the curbside recycling bins? a)You b)Federal Government c)Nobody– Public Property d)The City of Bloomington

Answer 4 – 30 d) The City of Bloomington

Question How far must the bin be placed away from a tree on the curb? a) 10 feetc) no distance b) 4 feetd) 15 feet

Answer 4 – 40 b) 4 feet

Question How far away must the recycling bin be placed from cars parked on the street? a) 10 feetc) no distance b) 4 feetd) 15 feet

Answer 4 – 50 a) 10 feet

Question Fill in the blank: Reduce, Reuse, and

Answer 5 – 10 Recycle

Question What kind of recyclable material makes up the largest part of our waste stream? a) Metalc) Food waste b) Paperd) Glass

Answer 5 – 20 b) Paper

Question True or False? Aluminum foil can be recycled. a) Trueb) False

Answer 5 – 30 a)True If clean, aluminum foil can be put in the normal recycling bin.

Question What percentage of recycled glass is used in bottles and jars? a) 75%c) 100% b) 50%d) 25%

Answer 5 – 40 d) 25%

Question What is McLean County’s goal recycling rate? a) 100%c) 15% b) 40%d) 50%

Answer 5 – 50 b) 40% We haven’t yet achieved this goal. So boost your personal recycling rate!