Recycling I. Bocskay Walden University PUBH-8165-1 Environmental Health Dr. Shana Morrell Spring,...

RecyclingRecycling

I. Bocskay I. Bocskay

Walden UniversityWalden UniversityPUBH-8165-1PUBH-8165-1

Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health

Dr. Shana Morrell Dr. Shana Morrell Spring, 2009Spring, 2009

Learning Outcomes of This PresentationLearning Outcomes of This Presentation

• To recognize the benefits of waste recycling, reusing and reducing

• Giving examples how common household items become serious environmental hazards

• Showing to the public that apartment tenants have limited opportunity to recycle

• Transforming our society to conscious about environmentally friendly behavior

Definition of RecyclingDefinition of Recycling

According to The American Heritage Science Dictionary (2005), recycling is considered as separating, collecting, reusing and in the same time reducing unwanted objects, which are coming from manufacturing processes or from consumer products (The American Heritage Science Dictionary, 2005).

The American Heritage Science Dictionary.(2005). Recycling. (1st.ed.). pp. 528. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston.

Benefits of RecyclingBenefits of Recycling

• Saves energy• Reduces buried garage in landfills• Removes hazardous materials from the waste

streams• Protects our health and environment• Conserves our natural resources• Saves money • Creates jobs (EPA, 1992)

EPA. (1992). You can make a ton of difference. Recycle. Retrieved April, 1992, from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/downloads/recy-ton.pdf

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

• MSW or common household trash includes papers, glasses, plastics, furniture or small electrical equipment, and etc.

• In 2007, 254 million tons of trash has been generated in the United States; 85 million tons of trash were recycled and composed

• Each individual generates 4.6 pounds trash per day and only 1.5 pounds of waste recycled or composed (EPA, 2007)

EPA. (2007). Municipal solid waste generation, recycling, and disposal in the United States: facts and figures for 2007. Retrieved 2007, from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw07-fs.pdf

Types and Percentages of Municipal Types and Percentages of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States in 2008 Solid Waste in the United States in 2008

(EPA, 2009(EPA, 2009))

• papers 40.4%• yard trimmings 17.6%• metals 8.5%• plastics 8.0%• food scraps 7.4%• glasses 7.0%• others 11.6%

EPA. (2009). General overview of what’s in America’s trash. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/catbook/what.htm

Storing Our Waste in LandfillsStoring Our Waste in Landfills

• The capacity of landfills are limited nationwide• Adequate landfills are expensive especially in highly

populated metropolitan areas• Waste accumulation causes odor, groundwater

contamination, damages in the ecosystem, destroys natural habitats and landscape (Huhtala, 1997)

Huhtala, A. (1997). A post-consumer waste management model for determining optimal levels of recycling and landfilling. Environmental and Resources Economics. 10. pp. 301-314. Retrieved 2007, from http://www.ids-environment.com/Common/Paper/Paper_145/Post-Consumer%20Waste%20Management.pdf

How Can We Transform Our Society To How Can We Transform Our Society To Become More Conscious About Become More Conscious About

Environmentally Friendly Behavior?Environmentally Friendly Behavior?• Educating the public about the benefits of waste

recycling, reusing and reducing• Focusing on the durability and packaging of products• Selling eco friendly or “green” products on decent

price• Opening more recycling locations nationwide

(Californians Against Waste “1”, 2009)

Californians Against Waste “1”. (2009). Zeroing in on zero waste. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/zero_waste

Paper Recycling Paper Recycling

• Total paper consumption was 101.8 million tons in the United States in 2005; each Americans used 687 pounds paper per year (Bratkovich, Bowyer, Fernholz, Howe, 2008)

• In 2007, 43.1 million tons of paper and paperboards were generated in the USA; 20.3 million tons were recovered from recycling (EPA, 2007)

Bratkovich, S., Bowyer, J., Fernholz, K., & Howe, J. (2008). Paper recycling in the United States and beyond: an update. Dovetail Partners, Inc. Retrieved September 22, 2008, from http://www.dovetailinc.org/files/DovetailRecyclePaper0908bpn.pdf


What Kind of Paper Can Be Recycled?What Kind of Paper Can Be Recycled?

• White office/printing papers, envelops• Newspapers, magazines• Phone books• Junk mail, flyers• Cardboards (contaminated items are not acceptable

like greasy pizza boxes)• Not acceptable items: waxed papers, carbon papers,

stickers or plastic laminated papers, food contaminated papers, juice boxes(Obviously Enterprises, 2006)

Obviously Enterprises. (2006). Commonly recycled materials. Retrieved 2006, from http://www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/common

Benefits of Paper RecyclingBenefits of Paper Recycling

• Making new papers from old recycled ones save 30 to 50% energy

• 95% pollution reduction during paper making• Saving our forests • Less paper waste in landfills• Recycled papers have “new lives” as egg cartons, game

boards, gift boxes. insulation or packaging materials, paper towels, toilet papers, and etc. (Green Living Home, 2008)

Green Living Home. (2008). Facts about recycling paper. Retrieved May 8, 2008, http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Facts_About_Recycling_Paper

Junk MailJunk Mail

• More than 90 million trees are cut out yearly for junk mail printings

• 5.6 million tons junk mail per year• 4.3 million tons of junk mail landing in trash • 340,000 garbage trucks need to take away junk mail (The

County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, 2009)

The County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works. (2009). Junk mail. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.ladpw.org/epd/junkmail/

Plastic as a Serious Environmental Plastic as a Serious Environmental HazardHazard

• 12% of MSW was plastics in 2007• 6.68 million tons of plastics were generated in

2007• 36.6% of all recycled plastics were soft drink

bottles (EPA, 2007)• “In 2006, an average American used 167

disposable water bottles, but only recycled 38” (Fishman, 2007, p.110)


Fishman, C. (2007). Message in a bottle. Fast Company Magazine. July 2007. pp.110

Plastic BagsPlastic Bags• “Shop and discard society”

• On the picture: a plastic bag collection after 2 weeks of grocery shopping

Picture was taken by I. R. B.

Are Plastic Bags Free?Are Plastic Bags Free?

According to Californians Against Waste (2009), plastic bags are not free items; because California spends more than $25 million yearly to store unwanted plastic bags in landfills; beside they also spend millions of taxpayers dollars to clean up rivers, oceans and beaches (Californians Against Waste “2”, 2009).

Californians Against Waste “2”. (2009). The problem of plastic bags. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/plastic_bags/problem

Ecological Effects of Plastic BagsEcological Effects of Plastic Bags

• Accumulation of plastic bags dangers inhabitation of rivers, lakes and oceans

• Wind blows away and spreads plastic bags all around• Plastics enters into the marine system by causing

irreversible effects in the ecosystem: • Plastic bags outweigh plankton population in some costal

areas; • Plastic bags look like jellyfish- sea turtles’ main food source

is jellyfish; • More than 100,000 marine mammals and turtles are killed

by plastics each year(Californians Against Waste “2”, 2009)

Californians Against Waste “2”. (2009). The problem of plastic bags. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/plastic_bags/problem

Plastic Bag Waste Reduction in Plastic Bag Waste Reduction in CaliforniaCalifornia

• California Law, AB 2449 stared on July 1, 2007 requires large grocery and retailer stores to place recycle bins in visible location for plastic bag recycling (California Integrated Waste Management Board, 2007)

• 25 cents plastic bag fee passed a California Assembly Committee on April 13, 2009 (Miranda, 2009)

California Integrated Waste Management Board. (2007). State kicks off progressive plastic bag recycling program: new law makes it easier for consumers to recycle their plastic bag. Retrieved July 2, 2007, from http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Pressroom/2007/July/37.htm

Miranda, N. (2009). Plastic bag fee passes California committee. ABC7 California News. Retrieved April 13, 2009 from http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=6759302&rss=rss-kabc-article-6759302

Metal RecyclingMetal Recycling• The most recycled metal is the aluminum• Beverage container recycling rate was 83% in 2007

(Californians Against Waste “3”, 2009)• A recycled aluminum can “comes to life again” less than 90

days after recycling, manufacturing and distributing (The State of California, Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, 2009)

• 7 million tons of metals were recycled in 2007 (EPA, 2007)

Californians Against Waste “3”. (2009).Beverage container recycling rates. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/bottle_bill/recycling_rates

EPA. (2007). Municipal solid waste generation, recycling, and disposal in the United States: facts and figures for 2007. Retrieved 2007, from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw07-fs.pdfThe State of California. Department of Conservation. Division of Recycling. (2009). Recycling. Facts & fun. Retrieved 2009, fromhttp://www.conservation.ca.gov/dor/rre/kids/Documents/RecyclingFactsFun.pdf

Glass RecyclingGlass Recycling• Glass items recycling rate was 28.1% in 2007 (EPA,

2007)• 32% of all new glass items are coming from post-

consumer recycled glass• A recycled glass item “comes to life again” less than

12 weeks after recycling, manufacturing and distributing (The State of California, Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, 2009)


The State of California. Department of Conservation. Division of Recycling. (2009). Recycling. Facts & fun. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dor/rre/kids/Documents/RecyclingFactsFun.pdf

E-waste or Electronic Hazardous WasteE-waste or Electronic Hazardous Waste• Most of the E-waste contains lead, mercury and other heavy

metals• California Department of Toxic Substance Control (2007) defines

E-waste with toxicity, ignitability, corrosivity and reactivity • E-wastes are TV and computer monitors, laptops, DVD or video

players, LCD screens, calculators, cell phones, and etc. (California Department of Toxic Substance Control, 2007)

California Department of Toxic Substance Control. (2007). Electronic Hazardous Waste (E-waste). Retrieved 2007, from http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/EWaste/

E-waste Reduction in CaliforniaE-waste Reduction in California

• California Law, SB 20 stared on January 1, 2005 has implemented a program to recycle, reduce and recover E-waste

• In 2007, more than 120 million pounds of E-waste in California• More than 600 E-waste recycling location in California

(Californians Against Waste “4”, 2009)

Californians Against Waste “4”. (2009). California’s existing E-waste recycling laws. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/ca_e-waste/existing_laws

Waste Tire RecyclingWaste Tire Recycling

• Illegally dumped waste tires can cause serious health and environmental effects

• They destroy landscape• They are flammable and toxic• More than 10 million waste tires yearly in Los

Angeles County• Importance of outreach, educational and collection

events (Los Angeles County Department of Public Work, 2009)

Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. (2009). Waste tire recycling. Retrieved 2009, from http://dwp.lacounty.gov/epd/TireRecycling/index.cfm

Limited Recycling Opportunity for Limited Recycling Opportunity for Apartment Tenants in California Apartment Tenants in California

Picture was taken by I. R. B.

Limited Recycling Opportunity for Limited Recycling Opportunity for Apartment Tenants in California Apartment Tenants in California

On the pictures, there are unselected materials in the apartment building waste bin

Pictures were taken by I.R.B.

Recycling Opportunity to Everyone (?)Recycling Opportunity to Everyone (?)• California Law, AB 939 waste reduction program

focuses on recycling opportunities in private family homes (Californians Against Waste “5”, 2009)

• Family residencies have the opportunity to recycle

Californians Against Waste “5”. (2009). Bringing the opportunity to recycle to everyone. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/apartment_recycling

Picture was taken by I.R.B.

Recycling Opportunity to Everyone (?)Recycling Opportunity to Everyone (?)

• More than 7.1 million Californians live in apartments• Tenants of the apartments generate 3.3 million tons

of trash• Only 40% of apartment tenants have opportunity to

recycle• There is not enough space for waste management,

and also high cost of service (Californians Against Waste “5”, 2009)

Californians Against Waste “5”. (2009). Bringing the opportunity to recycle to everyone. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/apartment_recycling

Recycling and its Local and Global Recycling and its Local and Global EffectsEffects

• Recycling creates jobs• Recycling reduces landfill spaces• Recycling re-processes existing materials• Recycling protects our health, nature, and

environment • Recycling conserves view of the landscape• Recycling prevents global warming

(Californians Against Waste ”6”, 2009)

Californians Against Waste “6”. (2009). Dec. 11-recycling to play critical role in state’s landmark global warming plan. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/node/3200

Keep Your Environment Clean and Keep Your Environment Clean and Pretty! Recycle!Pretty! Recycle!

Pictures were taken by I. R. B.

References:References:• Bratkovich, S., Bowyer, J., Fernholz, K., & Howe, J. (2008). Paper recycling in the United States

and beyond: an update. Dovetail Partners, Inc. Retrieved September 22, 2008, from

http://www.dovetailinc.org/files/DovetailRecyclePaper0908bpn.pdf

• Californians Against Waste “1”. (2009). Zeroing in on zero waste. Retrieved 2009, from

http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/zero_waste

• Californians Against Waste “2”. (2009). The problem of plastic bags. Retrieved 2009, from

http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/plastic_bags/problem

• Californians Against Waste “3”. (2009).Beverage container recycling rates. Retrieved 2009, from

http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/bottle_bill/recycling_rates

• Californians Against Waste “4”. (2009). California’s existing E-waste recycling laws.

Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/ca_e-waste/existing_laws

• Californians Against Waste “5”. (2009). Bringing the opportunity to recycle to everyone. Retrieved

2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/apartment_recycling

• Californians Against Waste “6”. (2009). Dec. 11-recycling to play critical role in state’s landmark

global warming plan. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.cawrecycles.org/node/3200

• California Department of Toxic Substance Control. (2007). Electronic Hazardous Waste (E-

waste). Retrieved 2007, from http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/EWaste/

References:References:• California Integrated Waste Management Board. (2007). State kicks off progressive plastic bag recycling

program: new law makes it easier for consumers to recycle their plastic bag. Retrieved July 2, 2007, from

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Pressroom/2007/July/37.htm

• EPA. (1992). You can make a ton of difference. Recycle. Retrieved April, 1992, from

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/downloads/recy-ton.pdf

• EPA. (2007). Municipal solid waste generation, recycling, and disposal in the United States: facts and

figures for 2007. Retrieved 2007, from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw07-fs.pdf

• EPA. (2009). General overview of what’s in America’s trash. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/catbook/what.htm

• Fishman, C. (2007). Message in a bottle. Fast Company Magazine. July 2007. pp.110

• Green Living Home. (2008). Facts about recycling paper. Retrieved May 8, 2008,

http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Facts_About_Recycling_Paper

• Huhtala, A. (1997). A post-consumer waste management model for determining optimal levels of recycling

and landfilling. Environmental and Resources Economics. 10. pp. 301-314. Retrieved 2007, from

http://www.ids-environment.com/Common/Paper/Paper_145/Post-Consumer%20Waste

%20Management.pdf

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. (2009). Waste tire recycling. Retrieved 2009, from

http://dwp.lacounty.gov/epd/TireRecycling/index.cfm

References:References:• Miranda, N. (2009). Plastic bag fee passes California committee. ABC7 California News.

Retrieved April 13, 2009 from

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=6759302&rss=rss-kabc-article-

6759302

• Obviously Enterprises. (2006). Commonly recycled materials. Retrieved 2006, from

http://www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/common

• Pictures were taken by Ildiko R. Bocskay

• The American Heritage Science Dictionary. (2005). Recycling. (1st.ed.). pp. 528. Houghton Mifflin

Company: Boston.

• The County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works. (2009). Junk mail. Retrieved 2009,

from http://www.ladpw.org/epd/junkmail/

• The State of California. Department of Conservation. Division of Recycling. (2009). Recycling.

Facts & fun. Retrieved 2009, from

http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dor/rre/kids/Documents/RecyclingFactsFun.pdf

Recycling I. Bocskay Walden University PUBH-8165-1 Environmental Health Dr. Shana Morrell Spring,...

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