1. Recycling Materials Recycling Materials Project Lead The Way, Inc.
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2. Recycling Symbols Identifies resin content
Recycling Materials
Consumer gathers recycled materials
Consumer purchases recycled materials
Manufacturer recycles materials to create new product
Identifies resin content
Recycling symbols are located on products to provide information about the materials used to make the product. The symbols also indicate whether the product can be recycled, has been recycled, or how much of it was recycled. Note: the color green is irrelevant to this example for the recycling symbol.
First image: What do the three arrows mean? The first arrow represents the consumer gathering the recyclable materials to be recycled. The second arrow represents the manufacturer recycling the materials to create new products. The third arrow represents the consumer buying products made from recycled materials.
Second image: Identifies resin content
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

3. Recycling Materials
Recycling Symbols
Indicates that the product is made from recycled material
Indicates the percentage of the product made from recycled material
First image: The product is made from recycled material.
Second image: The percentage inside of the arrows indicates the percentage of the product that is made from recycled material.
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4. Recycling and Material Categories
Recycling Materials
Organics
Metals
Polymers
Ceramics
Composites
This presentation will discuss some recycling applications related to the material categories listed on this slide.
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Copyright 2009

5. Recycling Organics Grass clippings Bush and tree trimmings
Recycling Materials
Grass clippings
Bush and tree trimmings
Yard vegetation
Food scraps
Wood
Paper
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), organics comprise approximately 2/3 of the solid waste in landfills.
How can organics be recycled? The following lists contain limited examples of how organics can be recycled. These examples are not all-inclusive.
Recycling grass clippings, bush and tree trimmings, and yard vegetation:
The clippings, trimmings, and vegetation can become compost. This compost can later be used as a natural fertilizer. Decomposing grass clippings on the lawn will provide nutrients to the soil, and decomposing leaves can be used as mulch. If composting is not an option, many cities offer scheduled curbside pickup of yard clippings and trimmings.
Recycling food scraps:
Uneaten food can be donated to shelters or other facilities that provide for people in need. Food scraps or food waste can be recycled as compost.
Recycling wood waste:
Many local organizations collect wood waste to be recycled for pet bedding, mulch, flooring, windows, doors, etc.
Recycling paper:
Most cities have local facilities available to recycle paper and corrugated boxes (without a surface coating). These products can be recycled to produce newsprint, paper, boxes, etc.
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Copyright 2009

6. Recycling Metals Steel Brass Copper Aluminum Iron Recycling Materials
Recycling Steel:
Cans that once contained vegetables, pet food, paint, cleaning products, etc. The following items contain at least 75% steel and can be recycled: Electric and gas stoves, microwave ovens, bicycles, automobiles, etc.
Recycling Brass:
A few examples of common recyclable products containing brass are beds, musical instruments, radiators, etc.
Recycling Copper:
Copper has become expensive and is often stolen to be recycled for cash. A few examples of common recyclable products containing copper are wire and cables, tubing, air conditioners, etc.
Recycling Aluminum:
Recycling aluminum involves multiple products besides soda cans. For instance, automobile wheels, windows, ladders, automobile bumpers, baseball bats, etc.
Recycling Iron:
Many decorative furniture (yard and home) products contain iron; however, other products containing iron are fencing, signs, electric motors, generators, etc.
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Copyright 2009

7. Recycling Polymers Recycling Materials
Note: National Geographic has several virtual experiences for discovering how polymers are recycled. The tour can be accessed at
What does the number in the triangle mean? It indicates the type of resin or plastic that is used to create the recyclable product.
The following information provides a description and applications for each of the categories listed on this slide.
1. A recyclable plastic, polyethylene terephythalate (PET), was used to make the product. Applications are beverage bottles, milk jugs, writing pens, trash cans, etc.
PETE indicates that the product was made from PET. Applications are carpet, furniture, bumpers, fiberfill for jackets and sleeping blankets, etc.
2. A recyclable resin, a high density polyethylene, was used to make the product. Applications are milk jugs, household cleaner bottles, trash bags, shopping bags, etc.
3. A recyclable plastic resin, polyvinyl chloride, was used to make the product. Applications are medical tubing, residential and business siding, sewage pipes, playground equipment, etc.
Symbols from earthodyssey.com
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8. Recycling Polymers Recycling Materials
The following information provides a description and applications for each of the categories listed on this slide.
4.A low density polyethylene was used to make the product. Applications are squeezable bottles, bread bags, trash cans, etc.
5. A recyclable resin, polypropylene, was used to make the product. This material has the lowest density for the polys listed. Applications are ketchup bottles, straws, signal lights, etc.
6. Polystyrene was used to make the product. Applications are egg cartons, Styrofoam cups, insulation for walls and ceilings, etc.
Symbols from earthodyssey.com
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9. Recycling Ceramics Recycling Materials
Recyclable ceramics include bricks, jet engine nozzles, drainage pipes, crucibles, ends of halogen light bulbs, etc.
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10. Recycling Composites Recycling Materials
Recycled composites even have an impact for life at the bottom of the ocean. Old tires can be used to create artificial reefs for many living organisms in the ocean. Rubber tires can also be ground to create mats for indoor playgrounds, floor mats, material for running tracks, speed bumps, etc.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2009

11. Recycling Codes Recycling Materials
Codes are a systemized body of laws; a set of principles. Recycling codes dictate the disposal of material solid wastes that are regulated at the state, national, and international levels by governmental agencies. In the United States, the general set of principles are similar, but some portions of the laws may be specific to certain regions of the nation.
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Copyright 2009

12. Example Product Development Lifecycle for Recyclable Materials
Recycling Materials
Product Development Lifecycle refers to the stages a product goes through from concept and use to eventual withdrawal from the market place. Although recycling does protect the environment, eventually there will come a time for materials to be permanently disposed.
Raw materials are sent to manufacturers. The manufacturers prepare the raw materials and send them to other manufacturing processes to create the products. Once the products have been created, they are shipped to various retailers to sell. The consumer is the key to recycling. At this junction, the consumer must make multiple decisions, each of which impacts the product lifecycle. Consumers should choose to purchase products that are packaged in recyclable materials or that have been created from recyclable materials. Either way, the waste can be recycled. Consumers must also decide what to do with the waste, recycle it or throw it away. Recycling can mean the material reenters the product lifecycle or it can mean the reuse of the product. For instance, milk jugs can be melted to their original state, or the consumer can modify the jug to serve a different purpose.
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13. Resources
Recycling Materials
American Forest and Paper Association. (2002). Environment and recycling. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from
Australian Government. (2008). Department of the environment, water and heritage. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from publications/images/shop2.gif
Corrugated Packaging. (n.d.). Recycling corrugated. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from
EarthOdysseyTM Pulling Tool. (2008). Recycling symbols. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from
National Geographic. (1997). Recycling polymers. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from
Publishers National Environment Bureau. (2004). Old papers to newspapers: a recycling success story. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from
Recycle Metal.Org. (n.d.). Scrap metal – what is metal waste? Retrieved March 21, 2008, from
Steel Recycling Institute. (n.d.). Welcome to the steel recycling website. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from
The Glass Packaging Institute. (2007). Representing the North American glass container industry. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Recycling municipal solid waste. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from
Wise Recycling. (2002). Household recyclables. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from
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