Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials. Furthermore, recycling reduces the consumption of fresh, raw materials, energy usage, air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land-filling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" waste hierarchy.
Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and electronics. Although similar in effect, the composting, or other reuse of biodegradable waste – such as food or garden waste – is not typically considered recycling.
In the strictest sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of the same material—for example; used office paper would be converted into new office paper, or used foamed polystyrene into new polystyrene. However, this is often difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so "recycling" of many products or materials involve their reuse in producing different materials (e.g., paperboard) instead. Another form of recycling is the salvage of certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (e.g., lead from car batteries, or gold from computer components), or due to their hazardous nature (e.g., removal and reuse of mercury from various items).
Did you know?
In 2008, Canadians produced over 1,031 kilograms of waste per person, virtually the same per capita production as in 2006. Of this total, 777 kg went to landfills or was incinerated while 254 kg was diverted from landfill. Overall,this translated into 34 million tonnes of waste handled by the waste management industry; 26 million tonnes of that waste was disposed of in landfills or was incinerated and over 8 million tonnes was diverted or processed through material recovery facilities or centralized composting operations.
Approximately 21 million tonnes of waste generated came from non-residential sources while the other 13 million tonnes was from residential sources.
Please read Waste Management Industry Survey: Business and Government Sectors 2008 for more information.
Recyclable Materials
ABS Scrap
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Found in automotive parts and computer scrap.
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Baled OCC
Old Corrugated Cardboard
Scrap cardboard from boxes and packaging from shipping goods.
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Baled PP Super Sacs
(Polypropylene) Super Sacs
Bulk container used for shipping rice, peanuts, sugar and other various materials.
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Circuit Boards
The brains of the computer.
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HDPE Crate Collapsible Bins
(High Density Polyethylene) Crate Collapsible Bins
Used for material handling of bulk and heavy products.
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HDPE Pallets & Dunnage
(High Density Polyethylene) Pallets & Dunnage
Another form of material handling for specific products and/or shapes.
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HDPE Scrap
(High Density Polyethylene) Scrap
Small pieces which cannot be reused or broken pieces from totes, pallets or crates.
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HDPE SF Bins
(High Density Polyethylene Structural Foam) Bins
Used for material handling of bulk and heavy products.
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HDPE Totes
(High Density Polyethylene) Totes
Used for material handling of small parts in bulk form.
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HIPS Scrap
(High Impact Polystyrene) Scrap
Used for signage, nursery plant trays and film reels.
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LDPE Baled Film
(Low Density Polyethylene) Baled Film
Used to wrap skids, boat wrap and for greenhouses.
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PC (Polycarbonate) CD Scrap
Used for compact disc and cases.
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PET Film
(Polyethylene Terephthalate) Film
Used for photo imaging.
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PP POP Signage
Polypropylene Point of Purchase
Used for Marketing Displays, indoors and outdoors. Also used for dividers in plastic totes and containers.
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PP Regrind
Polypropylene
In this form it may now be ready for processing into new goods.
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PP Repro
Polypropylene
Also known as ‘repell’, the scrap has been ground and re-pelletized and is now ready for production of new products.
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PP Scrap Auto Parts
Polypropylene
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PP Strapping
Polypropylene
Plastic strapping (banding) to secure goods.
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PS POP Signage
Polystyrene Point of Purchase
Printable plastic that is flexible and weather tolerant.
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PS Scrap
Polystyrene
Recyclable plastic from used or old refrigerators.
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PVC Tray
Polyvinyl Chloride
Used for tray packing of small and/or delicate parts.
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Scrap Metal Bins
Bulk material handling for heavy steel parts and scrap that have been damage.
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Stainless Steel Scrap
The picture shown above is oversize stainless steel equipment.
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Steel Bars
Scrap steel bars, or rod, from various sources that can no longer be used or are defective.
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Steel Cages
Bulk material handling for heavy steel or plastic parts that have been damaged.
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