The Science Behind Recycling: What Happens to Your Recycled Materials?
In our fast-paced, production-intensive world, it’s easy to overlook the byproducts of our work – the waste. We produce, consume, and discard at an unprecedented rate, especially in the business world. And while this cycle powers our businesses and economies, it also presents a significant challenge, straining our planet’s finite resources.
This is where recycling comes in. It presents a practical and beneficial way to convert what we usually view as waste into useful materials, helping us reduce environmental harm and contribute to a circular economy.
But what really happens when we toss an item into a recycling bin? Where does it go, and how does it re-emerge as a brand-new product? Today, we’re doing a deep dive into the science behind recycling and how it supports business sustainability efforts.
Understanding Recycling
Simply put, recycling is the process of converting waste or discarded materials into reusable materials and objects. It’s an alternative to conventional waste disposal that can save raw materials and help lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycling isn’t a new concept, and it’s actually been practiced for thousands of years. Early humans recycled scrap metal and other materials out of necessity. During the Industrial Revolution, the practice gained more traction due to mass production and increased waste. Then, during the two world wars, materials were recycled and reused extensively because of resource shortages. It wasn’t until the environmental movement of the 1970s that recycling as we know it today began to take shape.
In the twenty-first century, recycling plays an even more vital role in sustainability and environmental protection. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling can significantly reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills and incinerators. In the EPA’s latest comprehensive report from 2018, about 32.1% of the 292.4 million tons of waste generated in the U.S. was recycled, leading to a notable reduction in emissions equivalent to taking over 41 million cars off the road for an entire year.
Globally, recycling rates are improving too. The World Bank found that, in high-income countries, almost half of all waste is now recovered through recycling and composting. These statistics underscore the significant role recycling plays in taking care of our limited resources.
Let’s delve deeper into the journey of recycled materials and how this process can directly impact and benefit your business.
The Journey of Recycled Materials
The journey of recycled materials goes through three key stages: collection and sorting, processing and manufacturing, and selling and reuse.
Collection and Sorting
The journey begins with the collection of recyclable materials. When your business recycles products like textiles, cleaning supplies, and other recyclables, these materials are collected and taken to recycling centers. The role of your employees and customers here is crucial. By properly segregating waste into recyclable and non-recyclable materials, we help ensure that the right items get to the recycling centers, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing contamination.
Once at the recycling center, the materials are sorted. This is usually done both by hand and with automated machinery, separating materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal into separate categories. For example, when recycling specialized items like candles, the recycling facility removes the outer vessel material of glass or metal before separating out the wax and the wick. Sorting is an essential step as each type of material has a different recycling process.
Processing and Manufacturing
After sorting, materials are processed, or broken down, into their raw forms. For instance, paper is turned into pulp, plastic into pellets, and glass and metal are melted down. These raw materials can then be used to manufacture new products. For example, recycled paper might become the cardboard for a new cereal box, while plastic bottles could transform into carpet fiber or clothing.
When recycling organic waste like food scraps or discarded food products, the processing involves breaking the food particles down into usable energy through anaerobic digestion – although composting is another common organics recycling method.
Selling and Reuse
Once these materials have been processed and manufactured into new products or forms (like energy), they are ready to re-enter the market. These recycled products can be found in a variety of sectors, from construction and packaging to clothing and electronics.
The lifespan of recycled materials varies depending on the type of material and the products they’re turned into. Some materials, like aluminum and glass, can be recycled indefinitely without losing their quality. Others, like certain types of plastic, degrade each time they’re recycled and can only go through the process a limited number of times.
By buying and using products made from recycled materials, businesses can contribute to the demand for recycled goods, thus closing the recycling loop and promoting the circular economy. Taking steps to avoid use of products that have a limited recyclable lifespan, like plastic, can help support sustainability even more. Thankfully, there are more alternatives to choose from than ever.
Different Types of Recyclable Materials and their Processes
Different materials require different recycling processes. Let’s delve into five common types of recyclable materials – paper, plastic, metals, electronics, and textiles – and look at their individual recycling processes and their impacts on businesses.
Paper
After paper is transported to a recycling facility, it’s mixed with water and chemicals to break it down into pulp. Contaminants like staples and plastic are removed, and the pulp is further processed and dried to form new paper products.
For businesses, paper recycling can offer substantial benefits. It reduces waste disposal costs while also helping conserve natural resources like trees and reducing the energy and water used in paper production. Companies that sell recycled paper products can appeal to eco-conscious consumers, potentially boosting sales and improving their brand image.
Plastic
Once recycled plastics are cleaned and shredded into flakes, they’re then melted and remolded into new products. Some plastics are harder to recycle than others due to their different chemical structures.
Plastic recycling can greatly impact businesses by reducing plastic waste, which is a major environmental issue. It can also lead to cost savings, since using recycled plastic in manufacturing processes often costs less than using new (virgin) plastic. Businesses that produce and sell recycled plastic products can also attract environmentally-minded customers.
Metals
Metal recycling involves collection, sorting, shredding, and melting. Metals are separated using magnets, and non-ferrous metals (like aluminum and copper) are further separated using eddy current separators. After separation, the metals are melted down and formed into new products.
Recycling metals can significantly benefit businesses by providing a cheaper source of raw materials and reducing the environmental impact of mining and processing new metals.
Electronics
Electronics recycling, or e-waste recycling, involves collecting electronic devices like computers, appliances and other hardware. Items are manually disassembled, and valuable materials like copper, silver, gold, and palladium and separated out. Harmful elements like lead and mercury are properly disposed of to prevent environmental contamination.
E-waste recycling can help businesses manage their electronic waste responsibly, complying with e-waste regulations and reducing environmental pollution. It also allows businesses to recover valuable materials from their old electronics, potentially saving money. Tech companies can gain a competitive advantage by offering take-back programs or selling products made from recycled components.
Textiles
Textile recycling involves a series of steps designed to reclaim original fibers or create new, useful products. The process begins with the collection of textile waste from sources including hospitality and retail businesses and clothing manufacturers. Once collected, textiles are sorted based on their condition and type.
Damaged textiles or those at the end of their lifecycle are sorted by fabric type and color, then shredded into fiber, removing any non-fabric components. This shredded material, or “shoddy,” can then be spun into new yarn or used in products like insulation, carpet padding, or industrial rags.
Textile recycling can have significant implications for businesses across different sectors. For fashion and apparel companies, textile recycling provides a way to reduce waste and use resources more efficiently. Retailers can offer a take-back program like CheckSammy’s Drop program to help support the circular economy. For businesses outside the fashion industry, incorporating textile recycling into your waste management strategies can help reduce disposal costs and environmental impact from recycling items like uniforms, linens, and other textile waste.
Making Recycling a Part of your Company Culture
Businesses have a crucial role to play in recycling and promoting sustainability. By fostering a culture of recycling and incorporating sustainability into your core values, your organization can make a significant positive impact. Here’s how:
Foster a Recycling Culture
Creating a recycling culture within your business starts with education. Employees need to understand why recycling is important and how they can contribute. Consider providing resources and training that explain how to recycle properly, including which items are recyclable and the importance of cleaning and separating recyclable items.
Next, make recycling easy. Set up clearly marked recycling bins throughout your workplace and consider working with a recycling vendor like CheckSammy that offers recurring recycling services. Ensure that there are processes in place for responsibly disposing of electronics, hazardous waste, and other specialized items. Specialized e-waste recycling and cleaning supply recycling initiatives can help with these efforts.
Prioritizing Sustainability in Your Company Values
Developing a well-defined sustainability mission not only guides your organization towards steady and reliable eco-friendly endeavors, but it also showcases your dedication to sustainable operations to key stakeholders – including employees, customers, and investors. This fosters a sense of trust, cultivates loyalty, and bolsters your organization’s reputation. For a step-by-step guide on incorporating sustainability into your core values, see our recent article.
If you’re looking for assistance with a comprehensive recycling program for your business, CheckSammy can help. With an extensive network of haulers and specialized recycling partners across North America, we have the expertise and resources to build and execute a customized sustainability program for your organization. Contact us today to learn more.
See Our Services
Create a custom solution to meet your waste and sustainability goals. Contact us today!
Continue reading
Dive deeper into the CheckSammy Blog by reading one of our posts below
Feeling the Pain of Higher Resident Turnover? Apartment Junk Removal Can Help
If you’re a property manager, you’ve probably had a significant increase in tenant turnover over the last couple of years. So it’s no wonder apartment junk removal may be top of mind for you right now. There are several reasons for this shift. For one, the housing market is on fire right now. In 2020 […]
Read More About Feeling the Pain of Higher Resident Turnover? Apartment Junk Removal Can HelpSetting Up a Community E-waste Recycling Program
E-waste is the fastest-growing municipal waste stream according to the EPA, yet e-waste recycling isn’t keeping pace. In fact, only 12.5% of all e-waste is recycled, reports the EPA. Starting a community e-waste recycling program is a terrific way to ensure hazardous e-waste, like lithium-ion batteries, doesn’t end up in your community’s landfill. Creating an […]
Read More About Setting Up a Community E-waste Recycling ProgramWaste Management’s Role in the Circular Economy
Establishing a waste management program for your business or community is one of the best ways you can contribute to the circular economy. Here’s everything you need to know about waste management’s role in the circular economy (and how to get involved). What Is the Circular Economy? Our current economic model is all about taking […]
Read More About Waste Management’s Role in the Circular Economy5 Reasons to Consider a Textile Recycling Program for Your Organization
Americans sent more than 17 million tons of textiles to landfills in 2018, a volume that is only increasing every year, reports the Environmental Protection Agency. When you think about the fact that it can take over 200 years for textiles to decompose, it’s easy to grasp how large textile waste’s contribution is to the […]
Read More About 5 Reasons to Consider a Textile Recycling Program for Your Organization8 Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Power Washing Services
If you’re into maintaining the curb appeal of your business or home, then you’ve probably heard of pressure washing. Pressure cleaning involves using high-pressure water spray to remove grime, mold, dust, paint, mud, and other junk from objects or surfaces. Many people worry that pressure washing isn’t good for the environment, but this couldn’t be […]
Read More About 8 Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Power Washing ServicesWhy Our Customers Love Our Full-Service Junk Removal
If you’re looking for full-service junk removal services, you’ve come to the right place. CheckSammy is a one-stop shop for all your junk removal and sustainability needs. From our affordability, simplicity, and unrivaled turnaround times to our innovative sustainability solutions and patented technology and data, it’s clear why some of North America’s biggest companies choose […]
Read More About Why Our Customers Love Our Full-Service Junk RemovalTips for a Stress-Free Move From An Eco-Friendly Junk Removal Company
What does an eco-friendly junk removal company know about moving? Quite a lot, actually. Moving can be an especially chaotic time. You have to pack everything up, get rid of unwanted items, clean your property, load everything up, and move your things to your new location. That doesn’t even include the unpacking and resettling period. […]
Read More About Tips for a Stress-Free Move From An Eco-Friendly Junk Removal CompanyCollege Junk Removal Tips for Student Move-In Day
As the new school year gears up, colleges across the country are looking for ways to clean up their campuses before the new year begins, and many of them want to do so sustainably. College junk removal isn’t easy, though, especially around move-in week—and when trying to do so sustainably. As students move in and […]
Read More About College Junk Removal Tips for Student Move-In Day8 Items Hospitality Businesses May Not Know They Can Recycle
One hotel guest produces 2.5 pounds of trash every single day. Just a single hotel room produces around one cubic yard of waste each month, which totals 200 gallons of waste per room every month. Most of this waste goes straight to the landfill, even though research shows that up to 60% of it is […]
Read More About 8 Items Hospitality Businesses May Not Know They Can Recycle