THIS TOOLKIT IS PROVIDED BY RECYCLE, MICHIGAN—AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INITIATIVE OF THE MICHIGAN RECYCLING COALITION
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, & Rot
As an educator, you will hear a lot about the Rs of managing materials. The four Rs listed here are required in a circular economy and prioritize a material's highest and best use. In this guide, we will focus on the four main Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, & Rot.
REDUCEREDUCE:
This is where it all starts: not making trash/waste in the first place. This is easy and just takes a couple of seconds to think, "Do I really need this?"
REFUSE:
It doesn't need to be rude. Think about those items you don't want or need.
It's easy once you start doing it.
Reduce by looking at which items your household uses: Plastic bottles? Aluminum cans? Clothing that only lasts one season?
You can reduce your own trash:
Just take a quick pause to reflect on the items you use and throw away. Smart choices can make a big difference, especially when a whole community starts changing their routine to reduce!
Reduce is the first line of defense against waste. The easiest place to prevent waste is at the source.
REUSEREUSE:
We throw things away too quickly! Before discarding an item, take a pause - give some thought to whether an item can be repaired, repurposed, refilled, or donated.
Choose to reuse:
Reuse helps residents create sustainable habits. Think of messaging that makes it easy to reuse.
Use visuals and local examples whenever possible.
If no local examples can be found, there are resources throughout the state for reuse and repair ideas.
RECYCLERECYCLE:
Even if you reduce and reuse as much as possible, there is eventually going to be an end point where you can't do that, and for the items that can't be reused anymore, recycling is the last chance to divert away from the landfill.
If you have access to curbside recycling in your community, you can recycling many common items that way.
But even if an item isn't accepted in your curbside program, there may be a way to make sure it gets recycled rather than ending up in a landfill. Check for local drop-off options (like grocery stores for plastic bags, retail stores for batteries and lightbulbs, and special events for household hazardous waste and electronics).
Resources for recycling communication:
Throughout this toolkit, you will find best practices for messaging about recycling. Think about how to make this specific to your local community. Can you include pictures off local residents recycling? Are these residents and customers representative of your municipality's demographics? Are they recycling products that you would see in a Michigan household?
ROTROT:
It sounds gross, but rot is actually a great way to keep food scraps and yard waste out of landfills through home composting or vermiculture (when worms make compost for gardens), or collection and industrial composting.Some cities and counties have food waste drop-off programs. If your area does not have that option, home composting is a good alternative.
Why do we collect yard waste separately at the curb? Because Michigan law requires it be managed differently. As yard waste decomposes in the landfill it creates methane and other potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. There's a much better solution for yard waste, food scraps, and other organic material. Manage it like Mother Nature does and make compost that can be used to regenerate Michigan soils.
Yard waste and food waste collection programs help reduce the amount of trash going to landfills. Collected organic waste can be composted and the resulting compost can be used das a soil amendment to regenerate soils, reduce soil erosion, and support plant growth and food production. This holistic organics management process creates value in our evolving circular economy.
Rot has the same first 3 Rs as recycling: you can reduce the food you won't eat, reuse by eating leftovers, and finally recycle by composting.
Rot is a great opportunity to promote keeping food scraps out of the landfill, and also out of the recycling bin. Rot refers to organics:
Rot Resources:
Partners are helpful in the education of organics and recycling. Consider connecting with County, Tribal, and University extensions to exchange composting communication.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A drop-off center that accepts both standard materials (flattened cardboard, metal containers, mixed paper, glass bottles and jars, and plastic containers) as well as at least three expanded materials, i.e., plastic film, textiles, electronics, HHW, organics, etc. This term can be used in place of “expanded drop-off” or “comprehensive drop-off.”
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recycling Drop-Off
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
There is no need to create a distinction between an essential, standard, super, or expanded drop-off when speaking with the public. Simply call this facility a "recycling drop-off" and provide a list of the items accepted there.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Recycling carts are rolled receptacles that are typically 35, 64, or 96 gallons. They are usually emptied using an automated side loader vehicle. The cart is serviced by an arm that grabs the cart and empties the recycling or trash into the “hopper” or body of the recycling or trash vehicle. All recycling contents are mixed together in one truck or one compartment of the truck. Recycling carts allow for more material collection, protection of materials within the receptacle with a lid, and easier set-out for residents due to the rolling mechanism. Communities that implement curbside carts experience higher volumes of collection and increased participation.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recycling Cart or Bin
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
Many residents call their recycling cart their recycling bin, and do not make the distinction between a smaller square open recycling receptacle and the rolling cart. It's best to use the language "recycling cart or bin" when referring to these containers to reduce confusion.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Home composting is the aerobic composting process at the individual, residential level, separate from curbside compost collections. Common examples are backyard composting within a bin or tumbler system, the use of kitchen tabletop electric food recyclers, indoor or outdoor worm bins, or indoor Bokashi bins.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Home Composting
NOTES:
This should be used in place of “backyard" or "yard composting,” as not all individual composters have access to a yard, and home composting is more inclusive of residential activities that take place indoors.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A drop-off facility that accepts only standard materials (flattened cardboard, metal containers, mixed paper, glass bottles and jars, and plastic containers). This term can be used in place of "basic drop-off" or "standard drop-off" within the industry.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recycling Drop-Off
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
There is no need to create a distinction between an essential, standard, super, or comprehensive drop-off when speaking with the public. Simply call this facility a "recycling drop-off" and provide the list of accepted items.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A collaborative agreement between a government entity and a private company to finance, develop, and manage recycling infrastructure and services. These partnerships leverage private sector investment, technology, and efficiency with public sector oversight, regulations, and expertise to improve recycling rates, enhance sustainability, and create jobs.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Public-Private Partnership or Collaboration
CATEGORY:
Not public policy?
NOTES:
Public-Private Partnerships are an increasingly popular way to fund recycling initiatives. There may be a way to supplement grant funding or decrease budget burdens for recycling program updates or new initiatives.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Bringing production in line with demand to prevent surplus products.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Reduce, Refuse
CATEGORY:
Sorting Term
NOTES:
A somewhat newer industry term that is growing in popularity with EPR initiatives that include measures/plans for source reduction. This is not yetin the public language yet so stick to terms like "reduce" or "waste reduction."
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Organic materials are those that are or once were alive and can be composted rather than recycled. This includes food waste, yard waste, farm waste, and soiled paper. It can be generated both at homes and in commercial settings.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Organics
CATEGORY:
Sorting Term
NOTES:
How your program refers to organics may depend on your collection and processing options. Some places may just have yard clippings included in their porgrams, while others may include food waste as well. Be sure your residents understand what you mean when you say "organics."
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Incoming recyclables that have been separated from other materials at the point of collection (drop-off and/or curbside collection programs). Some additional processing may be needed to further sort materials, such as separating plastics types or glass of differing colors. The primary purpose of the sorting facility is to separate materials into marketable commodities, remove contaminants, and prepare the material for market (baling, flattening, or crushing, etc).
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Sorted Recyclables
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
This reers to items or materials that have already been separated by the person or organization that generated them. They do not require further separation at a sorting facility before being sent to a recycler. A common example of this is plastic shopping bags that are returned to a grocery or big box store and placed in a collection container with only other plastic bags.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Glass containers are packaging for food and beverages. Using the terms glass bottles and jars helps to avoid window glass and ceramic cups/plates. This is not the same material that is used in making new bottles or fiberglass.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Glass Bottles & Jars
CATEGORY:
Recycling Program Terms
NOTES:
Clean and empty bottles & jars only. No windows or ceramic containers.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Plastic containers are packaging for food, beverages, and soap and shampoo made from one of the 7 types of plastics. Plastic is the most confusing of the recyclables. Keep it simple: food, beverage, and soap containers. This avoids plastic bags/wrap that can cause equipment stoppages and plastics containing dangerous chemicals.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Plastic Containers
CATEGORY:
Recycling Program Terms
NOTES:
You can also refer to plastic in the room of your home where you may find it. Mainly, plastic is used in the kitchen or bathroom for food, beverage, or soap containers. We reference all plastic types in this guide, however, plastic containers is a best practice. Simple instructions: Clean and empty food and beverage containers, soap bottles, and jugs.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
The EPA defines mixed paper as a broad category that often includes items such as discarded mail, telephone books, paperboard, magazines, and catalogs. Paper mills use mixed paper to produce paperboard and tissue, as a secondary fiber in the production of new paper, or as a raw material in non paper products such as gypsum wallboard, chipboard, roofing felt, cellulose insulation, and molded pulp products such as egg cartons.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Mixed Paper
CATEGORY:
Recycling Program Terms
NOTES:
Some older programs may list phone books as recyclable. Look at your program list and remove references to outdated materials. Avoid using terms like "fiber" or paper grades as these are industry terms.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Metal containers are steel, tin, or aluminum containers for food and beverages like pop cans and cans of tuna.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Metal Food and Beverage Containers
CATEGORY:
Recycling Program Terms
NOTES:
Using the word "container" along with metal encourages recycling of food and beverage containers and not scrap metal in curbside recycling. Add the instructions "clean and empty metal food and beverage containers" for clarity.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Corrugated cardboard boxes are typically used to deliver products. These boxes are fortified with a layer of wavy ridges that add space betwen the paper layers for packaging protection.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Corrugated cardboard
CATEGORY:
Recycling Program Terms
NOTES:
Always say "flattened" with cardboard to encourage empty boxes. Photos should depict flattened boxes.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A system that incorporates reducing, reusing, and composting as much waste as feasibly possible. There is also a focus on resource conservation through responsible production, consumption, and reuse. A 90% diversion rate or higher is the general standard for being considered zero waste.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Zero Waste
CATEGORY:
Public Policy Initiaitves
NOTES:
Many communities have adopted the term Zero Waste. However, it does not mean no waste produced ever. It aims to keep 90% of waste out of landfills using a systemic approach to waste minimization.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Product stewardship is the responsible management of a product's impacts throughout its entire lifecycle. A range of voluntary approaches, financed by producers, exist to manage end-of-life impacts of products and packaging, often by increasing post-consumer material recovery. Approaches may include industry collaboration, coalition building, and public-private partnerships to establish or enhance material collection and processing to achieve goals.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Product Stewardship
CATEGORY:
Public Policy Initiatives
NOTES:
VPR does not generally require supporting legislation, but does require program education and outreach.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A fee structure for solid waste collection and disposal that is based on the amount of solid waste generated. Under a PAYT system, residents are charged a variable rate depending on the amount of service they use. Most commodities with PAYT charge residents a fee for each bag or volume cart of waste they fill. In a few communities, residents are billed based on the weight of solid waste.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Pay-as-you-throw or pay by the bag/cart
CATEGORY:
Public Policy Initiatives
NOTES:
This approach to waste collection promotes fairness, lowering the cost of waste management for households that generate less waste. By also offering recycling, communities provide an incentive to reduce waste by participating in recycling programs.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Extended producer responsibility is a policy approach that requires producers to account for and manage the full lifecycle of their products and packaging. EPR legislation aims to do this by shifting the financial and/or management burden of end-of-life management onto the producers where design and development decisions are made. EPR policies are in place all over the world for a variety of products that require specific handling and management at the end-of-life.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
While the use of "EPR" is gaining popularity throughout the industry, these policies are not yet recognizable for the public. Giving examples of EPR is best, i.e. in Oregon, they have a statewide system where the companies that produce packaging pay for it to be recycled, composted, or reduce the amount of packaging they use in their products.
CATEGORY:
Public Policy Initiatives
NOTES:
More than 160 EPR laws in the US cover products such as paint, mattresses, tires, carpet, mercury switches, and more. There are currently seven states that have enacted EPR legislation for packaging and paper products.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A facility that accepts commingled (mixed) recyclable materials that have already been separated from municipal solid waste generated by either households or commercial sources.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recycling Facility
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
Generally, MRFs are designed to handle specific materials at a consistent volume. Recyclables can be received in three ways - single stream, dual stream, and source separated. The MRF is where residential recycling goes for sorting and consolidating before being sent to a processor or manufacturer.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Also called landfill diversion, this refers to the process of preventing waste from going to landfills by redirecting it to recycling or composting facilities.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Keeping waste out of landfills
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
Some municipalities report out on their annual waste diversion and what that may mean for landfill space, greenhouse gas savings, and othere environmental benefits.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A facility that incinerates accumulated municipal waste in a way that creates energy to be used for other purposes like electricity.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Waste-to-Energy Facility
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
Michigan has one waste-to-energy facility for MSW in Grand Rapids.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Materials collected for recycling are sorted by commodity type, which means types of recyclable material that have hte same composition. For example, #2 plastics are generally sorted into two commodity streams - colored and natural. Commodity types are industry standards for trade, because once they are sorted, they are sold to end markets as feedstock for manufacturing. While market values of commodities change on a regular basis depending on supply, demand, and quality, commodity standards remain fixed until industry agrees on changes.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recyclable Materials or Accepted Recyclables - you can also orefer to them by category type. Keep it simple when possible!
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
Most people do not think of recyclables as "commodities" like in the stock market, but recyclables are graded and sold regularly, like any other commodity. The money earned form the sale of recyclables helps offset the cost of recycling services.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
PS #6 plastic is commonly found as "foam" or EPS, Expanded Polystyrene used for takeout food containers and single-use cups. It is generally not accepted in curbside recycling programs, but recycling opportunities are growing through local drop-off programs.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Foam cups and containers
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
Avoid using the trademarked term "Styrofoam" and just use "foam" or "EPS foam."
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
PS #6 plastic is commonly found in single-use cups. Program acceptance may vary depending on end markets.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Plastic cups and containers
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
Avoid using trademarked terms like "solo cup" and simply say "plastic cup"
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
PP #5 is used in straws, soft drink cups, and certain food containers. PP plastic can be recycled, but check to make sure it's accepted at the local MRF.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Plastic Containers
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
If your program currently refers to resin codes in your educational materials, consider referring to plastic bottles and containers or just plastic bottles if that is what is accepted. Make it easy for residents.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
LDPE #4 is a soft, flexible type of plastic considered a plastic film. LDPE is commonly used to make thin plastic bags i.e. grocery bags, bread bags, and shrink wrap around many products. These are typically thought of as stringy tanglers and can get wrapped around and in recycling sorting equipment, so these materials are generally collected in bins at the front of participating grocery stores. A limited humber of curbside programs do accept bags in their prgograms. Check locally for collection information.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Stretchy plastic bags and wrap
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
If your program currently refers to resin codes in your educational materials, consider referring to plastic bottles and containers or just plastic bottles if that is what is accepted. Make it easy for residents.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
PVC #3 is more difficult to recycle than PET #1 and HDPE #2. This type of plastic can be found in children's toys and a variety of bottles, including detergent and shampoo.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Plastic Containers
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
If your program currently refers to resin codes in your educational materials, consider referring to plastic bottles and containers or just plastic bottles if that is what is accepted. Make it easy for residents.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
HDPE #2 is a recyclable plastic material that generally comes in colors or natural (no pigment). These are a mix of bottles, defined with a neck or mouth smaller than the base. An example of natural HDPE is a milk jug. An example of colored HDPE is a detergent bottle.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Plastic Containers
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Terms
NOTES:
These containers are collected widely in recycling prrograms. If your program currently refers to resin codes in your educational materials, consider referring to bottles and containers or just bottles if that is what is accepted. Make it easy for residents.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
PET #1 is a type of recyclable plastic used to package beverages, food, and other liquids. PET can be semi-rigid and is very lightweight. It acts as a good barrier to alcohol and solvents. It is strong, impact-resistant, and naturally colorless and transparent.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Plastic containers and jugs
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Terms
NOTES:
These containers are collected widely in recycling programs. If your program currently refers to resin codes in your educational materials, consider referring to plastic bottles and containers or just plastic bottles if that is what is accepted. Make it easy for residents.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A numerical coding system in which symbols and numbers are molded directly onto plastic bottles and containers to identify the resin from which they are made. The RIC was established in the late 1980s by the Plastic Bottle Institute. While surrounded by a recycling symbol, these numbers serve to identify the type of plastic used.
#1 - polyethylene terepthalate (PET) - example: plastic water bottles
#2 - high density polyethylene (HDPE) - example: milk jugs
#3 - polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - example: water pipes
#4 - low density polyethylene (LDPE) - example: plastic bags
#6 - polystyrene (PS) - example: foam cups
#7 - mixed plastic or other
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUGAGE:
Plastic Containers (avoid referring to recycling by numbers)
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Terms
NOTES:
If your program currently refers to resin codes on your educational materials, consider referring to them as plastic bottles and containers or just plastic bottles if that is what is accepted. Make it easy for residents to understand.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Recycled commodities are sold to end markets, generally manufacturers, who use the materials to make new products. Some end markets are "circular," meaning the items are recycled into the same material that they were made from (i.e. cardboard box becomes a new cardboard box). Some end markets "downcycle" or make recycled materials into other items that can't be easily recycled again (i.e. a plastic bottle becomes a shirt made from plastic fibers). This is still a valuable end market that saves virgin materials.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
End markets purchase processed recyclables to create new products.
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
Emphasize the importance of buying items that are made with recycled content to close the recycling loop. Telling the story of materials becoming new items helps enforce the importance of recycling.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Municipal solid waste (MSW) refers to the recycling or trash collected by both the residential or commercial sector. The commercial sector can generate high volumes of specific materials and manages them for collection in a dumpster, compactor, or recycling carts. The private sector usually provides trash and recycling services to businesses and can collect single or multiple and mixed materials. For example, corrugated cardboard is found in high volumes in commercial sector businesses. Restaurants also generate recyclable cans and bottles. Many businesses collect single or dual stream depending on available programs. Note that multi-family housing (apartments, condos, and other facilities that collect recyclables in a dumpster) may be classified as "commercial" recycling.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Business Recycling
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Terms
NOTES:
Commercial recycling refers primarily to recycling at businesses, retailers, offices, warehouses, institutions, restaurants, and venues. Note that multi-family housing (apartments, condos, and other facilities that collect recycling in a dumpster) may be classified as "commercial" recycling.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Recyclables collected by a municipality or recycling hauler at the curb of single-family homes. Typically collected in a recycling bin, wheeled cart, personal container, or paper or plastic bag, depending on the hauler's collection specifications. This does not include drop-off recycling and, typically, does not refer to multi-family or commercial (business) recycling.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recyclable materials that are collected curbside. If you already have the term "curbside recycling" in use, stick with that.
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
Curbside recycling has been proven to be the most convenient way to recycle.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Waste that ends up in the recycling stream where it doesn't belong, affecting the processing, recycling, or composting of that material.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Contamination, excluded item, non-recyclable, prohibited item
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Terms
NOTES:
Unless your community already recognizes the term "contamination," use another one of the recommended public language terms.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
The conversion of plastic waste to fuel (plastics-to-fuel), chemicals, and new plastic components (plastic-to-chemicals) is generally considered chemical recycling. There are three primary types of chemical recycling: pyrolysis, gasification, and solvolysis. Pyrolysis primarily targets polyethylene and polypropylene, or olefins. The pyrolysis proces heats up the collected recycled plastic without oxygen in a reactor which pulls apart the molecules, reorganizing them into their elemental parts for reuse. Chemical recycling is often considered for use when trying to reclaim multi-layered plastics. Note that this level of scientific detail is not accessible to most public audiences. You may hear them in recycling industry spaces.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Plastics-to-fuel
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Terms
NOTES:
Chemical recycling is a different process with different byproducts, end products, and emissions than traditional recycling, which might be called mechanical recycling in an industry setting. Note that the level of scientific detail needed to explain chemical recycling is not accessible to most public audiences.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Circular economy refers to products that are designed with productive end-of-life solutions in mind. While the "make-take-waste" economy is a one-way ticket to the landfill, the circular economy prioritizes reuse, recycling, composting, etc. A circular economy shows the economic and environmental benefits of working collaboratively to find non-landfill options for waste. The concept of reduce, reuse, recycle can be repeated over and over, creating a "circular" model for our waste.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Items that are designed with the end in mind, creating opportunities to reduce, reuse, recycle, or compost rather than landfill.
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Term
NOTES:
While the use of the term "Circular Economy" is growing in popularity in the industry, it is not yet recognizable for the public. Instead, focus on language that promotes how discarded items are a resource for manufacturing or giving materials a second life.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
A decomposition process where microorganisms consume and break down organic matter in an environment without oxygen. Any anaerobic digestion process produces methane gas and digestate. The gas can be cleaned and used or sold as energy. Large commercial anaerobic digester systems use microbes to encourage waste decomposition, like wastewater, manure, and food waste. When food and other organic materials are disposed of in a landfill, they generall decompose anaerobically, generating methane and contributing to landfill leachate, both of which are managed by landfills.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Anaerobic Digestion
CATEGORY:
Operational Industry Terms
NOTES:
Anaerobic processes occur in a closed "digester" system that uses microorganisms to break down food scraps and other organic waste. These terms are not generally used in a public space because they are confusing. This is not a composting system as composting is an aerobic process (using oxygen). An anaerobic digester is a closed system that does not use oxygen. Always check with the facility that is running the anaerobic digestion for a list of accepted and non-accepted items.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Recycling and trash carts are often collected using an automated side loader vehicle. The cart is serviced by an arm that grabs the cart and empties the recycling or trash into the "hopper" or body of the truck. This does not require the driver to get out of the vehicle unless something is blocking the cart from service or there is visible contamination.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recycling Cart
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
Recycling cart placed an arm's length distance (3') from all obstacles to be serviced with an Automated Side Loader.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Front-load collection vehicles service a "dumpster" or a rectangular container made of metal or plastic by picking up the container with two arms in the front of the vehicle to dump the material overhead into the back of the truck. These are the most common collection method for commercial businesses, schools, and multifamily housing for trash and recycling collection. Dumpsters can collect one type of the material that the business generates the most (i.e. cardboard boxes, office (mixed) paper, or other recyclable material) or a mixed stream of recyclables.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Business Recycling
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
Try to message commercial recycling separate from multifamily recycling. The items you recycle as well as the motivation to recycle will be different in each setting.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Recycling collected from apartments, condos, and houses that usually contain four or more units. Each multi-family residence is unique and the provision of recycling services at these locations can be challenging due to limited space.
PUBLIC-FACING LANUGAGE:
[Type of facility (i.e. apartment, condo, town house, high-rise)] Recycling. Note residents of these facilities do not usually refer to them as "multi-family facilities" but rather by the type of facility.
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
Recycling is often collected in a dumpster by a front-load vehicle, compactor using a roll-off vehicle, or in wheeled carts using an automated or rear-loader vehicle, depending on the facility and hauler space. Check with your residents to test terms that they associate most with (apartment, condo, townshouse, building, etc.).
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
All recyclables are collected together in one container with no need for the resident to sort by types of recyclables or bag any type of material.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Mixed Recycling
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
Most people do not think of recycling in "streams" like waste, recycling, and organics streams. Our industry describes streams in the form of collection and processing.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Recycled materials are collected from the curb or drop-off in two material streams, typically fiber or paper (newspaper, magazines, catalogs, mixed paper, cardboard, etc.) and commingled containers (plastic, glass, metal, and sometimes cartons, or aseptic containers). Further material sortation is required at the material recovery facility or MRF through a combination of automated equipment and manual sorting. Dual stream collection is considered a collection method that delivers higher-quality recyclables to end markets.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Paper and Containers
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
Separates paper items like office paper, mixed paper, paperboard, and flattened cardboard from plastic, metal, nd glass containers and packaging. These items may be in separate collection containers/carts or may be collected on a different day of the week. Most people do not think of recycling in "streams" like waste, organics, and recycling strams. Our industry describes streams in the form of collection and processing.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
While "recycling bin" is a generic term and can be used to describe any collection recepticle, "bin" is typically used to describe a container with no wheels that is 16-18 gallons in size.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recycling Bin
CATEGORY:
Collection Containers Terms
NOTES:
Some programs use the term "bin" for any type of recycling recepticle.
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Type of curbside collection vehicle that uses a staff-controlled arm to pick up the wheeled and lidded cart and dump it inot the collection vehicle. This type of collection is very efficient, taking usually 15-30 seconds to service a cart per home. This advance in collection allows for the collection of more materials because carts can contain more material than previous bins, are easier for the resident to take to the curb, and the lids protect the materials inside.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recyling Truck
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
Using the term "ASL" or "Automated Side Loader" can be confusing to residents. Discuss how it works - "a big arm comes down and grabs the cart and flips it upside down, emptying it into the truck."
INDUSTRY DEFINITION:
Recyclables collected by a municipality or recycling hauler at the curbs of single-family homes in a recycling bin, wheeled cart, a personal container, or paper or plastic bag, depending on the hauler's collection specifications. This does not include drop-off recycling and, typically, dos not refer to multi-family or commercial (business) recycling.
PUBLIC-FACING LANGUAGE:
Recycling (Collection or Drop-off) Center
CATEGORY:
Collection Term
NOTES:
Keep it simple, even if you use "collection or drop-off," the word recycling is key. Keep your labeling easy to follow. Keep what is accepted at the center and above items that are not accepted.
