24 Questions
What is a result of China's ban on importing electronic and computer scrap?
The creation of supersite dumps in third world countries
What is a risk associated with dismantling broken electronic devices by hand?
Health risks due to exposure to carcinogens
What is the website to donate a used cell phone to someone in a developing country?
What is the purpose of www.donateaphone.com?
To reprogram phones to dial 911 and give them to domestic violence victims
What is the term used to describe the exchange of materials between organizations?
Materials exchange
What percentage of the nation's solid waste was diverted in 2005 through curbside programs and drop-off centers?
32 percent
How much material was diverted from landfills and incinerators in 2006 through recycling and composting?
82 million tons
What is the website where you can find specific community information on recycling?
What is the primary benefit of recycling?
Turning materials into valuable resources
What type of materials are commonly recycled?
Glass, metal, plastics, and paper
What is the term used to describe the process of breaking down organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment?
Composting
What is the purpose of Nike's 'Reuse a Shoe Program'?
To create athletic flooring from recycled shoes
What is the result of recycling, including environmental, financial, and social benefits?
A host of environmental, financial, and social benefits
How many pairs of shoes are needed to make a full-size basketball court?
2500
What should be avoided in composting to prevent infection in plants and animals?
Feces
What organization has created specifications for compostable plastics?
American Society for Testing and Materials
What is a possible way for apartment dwellers to create compost?
Using a bucket with earthworms and veggie scraps under the kitchen sink
What is a common myth about composting?
If a plant is languishing, it will grow and flourish on the compost pile
Study Notes
Recycling and Waste Management
- BoatUS Foundation offers bins for recycling monofilament fishing lines at www.boatus.com/foundation/Monofilament/.
- Nike's "Reuse a Shoe Program" grinds up old shoes to create athletic flooring, with 2,500 pairs needed to make a full-size basketball court.
- Drop-off locations for the program can be found at www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/.
Composting
- The EPA's website www.epa.gov/compost/ provides FAQs and relevant publications on composting.
- Feces should never be included in composting mixes, as it spreads infection to plants and animals.
- Compostable bio-plastics can be sent to home compost bins or piles, but not all materials are made from corn, switch grass, or grain.
- ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 are specifications for compostable and biodegradable plastics.
Urban Composting
- Apartment dwellers can create compost using a bucket with earthworms, veggie scraps, and other materials.
- This process can create potting soil for houseplants.
Materials Exchange
- Businesses can save money by reselling or donating items that are no longer needed to reuse stores.
- Chemicals and solvents that are no longer useful to one organization can be used in other applications by other organizations.
Recycling
- Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources.
- Recycling generates environmental, financial, and social benefits.
- In 2006, recycling diverted 82 million tons of material from landfills and incinerators, up from 34 million tons in 1990.
- The website www.earth911.org provides information on recycling programs by ZIP code.
- Curbside programs, drop-off centers, and buy-back centers resulted in a diversion of about 32 percent of the nation's solid waste in 2005.
Electronic Waste
- Be careful when recycling techno trash such as cell phones, computers, and TVs.
- China's ban on electronic waste imports has led to the creation of supersite dumps in third-world countries, containing toxic materials like lead, PVCs, and mercury.
- The EPA's website www.epa.gov/recycling provides information on reputable charities and recyclers.
- The Cristina Foundation connects computer donors with the needy, and Collective Good and Recycle Wireless Phones allow users to donate used cell phones to developing countries.
Learn about various recycling programs, including boat recycling bins, Nike's Reuse a Shoe program, and composting. Discover how to recycle and reuse sports equipment.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
