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​Contamination: this occurs when items are not properly sorted, or items are dirty and unrecyclable

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​Curbside Recycling: This is a form of recycling where residents place their recycling at the curb and it is collected by workers 

 

​Landfill: Any material that does not get reclaimed at a material reclamation facility ends up in a large storage area known as a landfill.  Landfills consume useful space that could otherwise grow food or provide habitat.

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​Material Reclamation Facility (MRF): A facility that sorts waste based on material (glass, cardboard, etc.) and compiles it for shipping

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​Multi-Stream: When items are sorted by material, by the resident.

 

​Municipality: the local government that helps process waste

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Operation National Sword: In 2017, China implemented more stringent requirements on the material it would accept from foreign sources, including the United States, to be processed and reclaimed.  Material reclamation facilities then had to change their practices to reduce the contamination levels in material they sent abroad, reducing their profit margins and changing the economics of the recycling industry.

 

​Single-Stream: When items are sorted by the Material Recovery Facility. Residents can place all items into the bin without sorting. 

 

​Tempered Glass:  Some glass, such as that found in windows, goes through a special toughening process to help protect against shattering.  This glass, unlike that from beverage bottles, cannot be reclaimed at material reclamation facilities and can actually injure workers.

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Terracycle: a recycling organization whose goal is to eliminate the idea of waste

 

​Wish-Cycle: when you are unsure if an item is recyclable and place it in the recycling bin anyway. This causes contamination of the stream, which can slow down the recycling process.

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The 7 R’s

Rethink: Rethink the choices you make regarding plastic waste. Try buying locally and pay special attention to the material used to package items.

 

Refuse: Refuse single use plastics by having alternatives, such as metal or biodegradable straws instead of plastic.

 

Reduce: Reducing the waste you produce by only purchasing what you really need. A simple switch to make is cloth napkins that can be washed instead of buying single use napkins that would go to a landfill. 

 

Repurpose: Instead of throwing items away, try reusing them as much as possible by giving them a second life. Used jelly jars can be repurposed to store leftover food.

 

Reuse: Invest in good reusable materials that will help you reduce your waste. The easiest switch to make is to a reusable water bottle over plastic single use water bottles. 

 

Recycle: As part of the 7 R’s, recycle means going beyond your regular municipality’s recycling. This means maybe taking plastic bags to your local grocer for recycling, or finding a new way to recycle electronics or metals. 

 

Rot: Compost as much waste as you can so it can decompose naturally, rather than going to a landfill where it can take years and years to decompose.