A School Waste, Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, Composting & Buy ...

Thus the same natural resources can be used many times over, instead of always mining for
new natural resources.
o As a general rule, the manufacturing of new consumer goods from recycled materials
uses less energy and creates less air and water pollution than using new natural resources.
Aluminum is a very dramatic example of this, as it takes 95% more energy to make an
aluminum can from bauxite than it does to make that same can from recycled aluminum.
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o Some of these cans and bottles may be returnable. If your school has a soda machine,
these cans and bottles can be redeemed.
How are glass & metal food and beverage containers made into new containers?
When aluminum cans are recycled they are simply "melted" and new
aluminum is made. Steel cans are detinned, the tin is reclaimed and the
rest of the can is recycled into new steel. Glass containers are
separated by color, then crushed into “cullet", and then mixed with
some new raw materials (sand, soda ash, limestone) and then made into
new containers.
How do you prepare bottles and cans for recycling?
All bottles and cans should be rinsed out.
How do you design an efficient collection system?
It is essential that your collection system be as convenient as possible. In general, you
should have recycling containers wherever you have trash containers. Good signage is also
extremely important. Special recycling containers are available which have slots or small
holes ideally designed to only accept a certain material. For example, some have a round
hole for cans, others a narrow slot designed to take only newspapers. Outdoor collections
bins or dumpsters should be locked to minimize contamination.
How do you work with your collection service?
Whether your collection service is provided by the town or you contract privately to have
your trash and recyclables removed, it is important to work with your hauler to design a
system that works well with your pick-up schedule. This becomes important when you are
deciding on the size and number of containers needed to properly store all of the materials
that you generate between pick ups. It is important to minimize glass breakage to the
extent possible.
Remember that municipalities are required by state law to "provide for separation" of
recyclables. It is illegal for your hauler to take trash commingled with recyclables and
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