This is a subpage of the section on Waste.

What is recycling?

Recycling is converting waste into a usable resource or material.  The process of making waste into something reusable is actually very complex.  Most people only know of and see the first step in this process, which is separating recyclable items from trash and putting them in the recycling bin.  However, recycling does not actually occur until the material has been reprocessed and reused.  After recyclable materials are collected from the bins by a recycling facility, the facility sorts the materials and processes them into reusable forms.  Manufacturers then use the processed materials to make new products.

So why is it important to recycle?  How does recycling affect the environment, and is it really effective?  Do I really have to go through all the trouble to separate recyclable materials from my trash when I can throw it all in the same bin?  These are common questions that run through our minds, and it is easy to overlook the significance of recycling and the positive impact that you can have on the environment by recycling.

Five reasons why I should recycle

1. Extend landfill lifespans
   Recycling kept almost 70 million tons of material away from landfills in 2000 [Norfolk Nebraska].  By reducing the amount of landfill space used, recycling helps fit more waste in landfills and therefore reduces costs.  For example, the Northeast Nebraska Solid Waste Coalition landfill will last about another 40 years, but when it needs to be replaced, it will cost $10 million to construct a new one [Norfolk Nebraska]. 
2. Conserve resources
   Recycling conserves many natural resources, including timber and water.  All materials that are recycled and recovered save resources from being used.  For example, according to the American Forest and Paper Association, 37% of the paper industry is recycled paper, and if this paper had not been recycled, trees would have been sacrificed to create more paper.  Each ton of newspaper kills 12 trees, and each ton of office paper kills 24 trees.  That means that each recycled ton of newspaper saves 12 trees, and each recycled ton of office paper saves 24 trees.  Recycling a ton of paper also saves 7,000 gallons of water [Norfolk Nebraska].  Moreover, "when one ton of steel is recycled, 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved" [Norfolk Nebraska].  Recycling decreases logging and mining.
3. Conserve energy
   Giving recycled materials to industries requires less energy than supplying industries with virgin materials that have extra extraction and transportation costs.  Also, because the recycled materials have already been processed, energy is saved here, too.  Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy needed to make new aluminum from ore [Norfolk Nebraska].  Recycling steel spends 60% less energy than making steel from raw materials, and recycled newspaper saves 40%, recycled plastics 70%, and recycled glass 40% of energy required to make these products from raw materials [Norfolk].  By conserving energy, recycling reduces our dependence on oil. 
4. Reduce pollution
   Manufacturing recycled materials creates less air and water pollution than manufacturing virgin materials.  Recycling can greatly decrease pollution because in the US, processing materials produces about half of all toxic emissions from industries and creates 1.5 million tons of pollution annually [Norfolk Nebraska].  Recycling can help reduce these toxic emissions.  
5. Reduce greenhouse gases
   According to the Environmental Protection Agency, methane is a greenhouse gas that is 20 to 30 times more harmful than carbon dioxide in terms of its effects on global warming.  Municipal solid waste landfills are the largest source of human-related methane emissions in the US, and these landfills account for about 34% of these emissions.  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality states that "for every 6 tons of recycled container glass used, 1 ton of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is reduced.  Recycling one ton of aluminum is equivalent to not releasing 13 tons of carbon dioxide into the air."  Therefore, by recycling, greenhouse gases can be reduced.

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What can I recycle?

• Paper
  This includes mixed paper - construction paper, newspaper, magazines, envelopes, file folders, books, computer paper, paper bags, telephone books, etc.  However, paper cups, tissues, and napkins are not recyclable, nor is paper that is contaminated with food or oil.
  
• Cardboard
  Make sure that the cardboard is not contaminated with oil, like pizza boxes.
  
• Milk and juice cartons
• Glass bottles and jars 
  
• Plastic
  Just because something is plastic and has a number with three arrows around it does not mean that it can be recycled.  Usually you can only recycle PET plastic #1 and HDPE plastic #2.  An image of these two plastic symbols is on the right.  Look for these symbols on the bottom of plastic bottles, cups, cartons, and containers.   
• Metal
  This includes aluminum and aluminum foil, tin, and bi-metal.

Typically your residence will have two big recycling bins - one for paper and cardboard, and another for metal, glass, and plastic. 

Although I have provided a list of things that are recyclable, these are merely things that can be recycled through the recycle bins that most residences have.  You can technically recycle almost anything - computers, ink cartridges, batteries, shoes, cell phones, Christmas trees, toothbrushes - you name it.  Earth 911 is a great website that can help you find recycling centers for basically anything. 

Also, what is recyclable varies depending on your city's recycling program.  You can go to Recycling Centers in order to both find your local recycling center and know what is accepted by your recycling center.  If you are a Stanford student, PSSI (Stanford Recycling Center) offers a great webpage describing what is recyclable on campus. 

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Different kinds of plastic

There are many different types of plastic, and the numbers on the bottom of plastic containers indicate the type of plastic.  It is important to look at this number and identify the type of plastic because different plastics melt at different temperatures, and not all plastics are easily recyclable.  Most recycling centers only accept plastic #1 and #2 because they are easiest to recycle.  As the number increases, it is generally more difficult to recycle the plastic, and recycling it also requires more energy.  

Here is a table that outlines the different plastics:

Plastic Identity Code	Name of Plastic	Description	Examples of This Plastic	Things Made from This Recycled Plastic
	polyethylene terephthalate PET	clear, though plastic; may be used as a fiber	soft drink and mineral water bottles, filling for sleeping bags and pillows, textile fibers	soft drink bottles, detergent bottles, clear film for packaging, carpet fibers, fleecy jackets
	high density polyethylene HDPE	very common plastic; usually white or colored	crinkly shopping bags, freezer bags, milk and cream bottles, bottles for shampoo and cleaners, milk crates	compost bins, detergent bottles, crates, mobile rubbish bins, agricultural pipes, pallets, curbside recycling boxes
	unplasticised polyvinyl chloride UPVC plasticised polyvinyl chloride PPVC	hard, rigid plastic; may be clear flexible, clear, elastic plastic	clear cordial and juice bottles, blister packs, plumbing pipes and fittings garden hose, shoe soles, blood bags and tubing	detergent bottles, tiles, plumbing pipe fittings inner cores of hoses, industrial flooring
	low density polyethylene LDPE	soft, flexible plastic	lids of ice cream containers, bin bags, rubbish bins, black plastic sheets	film for builders, packaging and plant nurseries, bags
	polypropylene PP	hard but flexible plastic	ice cream containers, potato crisp bags, drinking straws, hinged lunch boxes	compost bins, curbside recycling boxes, wormeries
	polystyrene PS expanded polystyrene EPS	rigid, brittle plastic; may be clear, gassy foamed, lightweight, energy-absorbing, thermal insulation	yogurt containers, plastic cutlery, imitation crystal "glassware" hot drink cups, takeaway food containers, meat trays, packaging	clothes pegs, coat hangers, office accessories, spools, rulers, video/CD boxes
	other	includes all other plastics, including acrylic and nylon		CANNOT BE RECYCLED

If you want more information about the different plastics, refer to "Plastics.pdf" under Attachments at the bottom of the page.

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Red vs. recyclable cups

When you go to a party on campus, you are bound to see a red cup.  You have probably held a red cup in your hand, drunk from it, played beer pong with it, even bought a pack of red cups yourself.  So what is wrong with these red cups?  They are plastic, so they must be recyclable!  Wrong.  Red cups are made of polystyrene, plastic #6, and therefore are not recyclable in most places.  They are definitely not recyclable on Stanford campus, so when you go to a party or host a party that uses these red cups, waste is being created. 

If you are a student on Stanford campus, one alternative is purchasing cups from the Green Store.  The Green Store is an online store that sells 16oz., clear, plastic #1, recyclable cups and delivers them to your door!  The store also offers discounts for buying in bulk if you are planning on hosting a big party and need a lot of cups.

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Sources used for the information presented on this page:

1. Goldsmith, Sheherazade. A Slice of Organic Life. New York : Dk Publishing, 2007.
2. Norfolk Nebraska. "Why Recycling Matters." The Official City of Norfolk Nebraska. 29 May 2009 <http://www.ci.norfolk.ne.us/Solidwaste/why_recycling.htm>.
3. Planet Ark. "What is Recycling?." Recycling Near You. 29 May 2009 <http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/education/what-is-recycling.cfm>. 
4. Recycle Arizona. "Recycling Plastic, Glass and Paper." Recycle Arizona. 29 May 2009 <http://www.recyclearizona.net/recyclingmaterials.html>.
5. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. "Different Types of Plastic." Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. 29 May 2009 <http://www.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=574&pageNumber=2>.