HOW RECYCLING WORKS
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Just in case you've ever wondered, the following gives you an interesting look at where your recyclables go and what they can become. |
STEP
1
 COLLECTION AND PROCESSING
Collecting recyclables varies from community to community, but there are four primary methods: curbside, drop-off centers, buy-back centers, and deposit/refund programs.
Regardless of how the recyclables are collected, the next leg of their journey is usually the same. Recyclables are sent to a materials recovery facility to be sorted and prepared into marketable commodities for manufacturing. Recyclables are bought and sold just like any other commodity, and prices for the materials change and fluctuate with the market.
STEP
2
 MANUFACTURING
Once cleaned and separated, the recyclables are ready to
undergo the second part of the recycling loop. More and
more of today's products are being manufactured with total
or partial recycled content. Common household items that
contain recycled materials include newspapers, paper towels,
aluminum, plastic, glass soft drink bottles, steel cans,
egg cartons, carpeting, cereal boxes, plastic laundry detergent
bottles, and many more. Recycled materials are also used
in innovative applications such as recovered plastic in carpeting,
park benches, and pedestrian bridges.
 STEP 3
PURCHASING RECYCLED PRODUCTS
Purchasing recycled products completes the recycling loop.
By "buying recycled," governmental agencies, as well as
businesses and individual consumers, all play an important
role in making the recycling process a success. As consumers
demand more environmentally-sound products, manufacturers
will continue to meet that demand by producing high-quality
recycled products.
The County knows buying recycled-content products is important and has won the State's Trash Cutters Award for its Procurement Programs.
 YOU DO A LOT OF GOOD WHEN YOU RECYCLE
Recycling reduces the emissions of many greenhouse gases
and water pollutants, saves energy, supplies valuable raw
materials to industry, creates jobs, stimulates the development
of greener technologies, generates less solid waste, conserves
resources for future generations, and reduces the need for
new landfills and combustors.
WHAT HAPPENS TO...?
* Items that can be recycled at curbside in the County of Los Angeles
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What happens to...?
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It can become...
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| * Boxboard (detergent, cereal, tissue boxes) |
New boxboard packaging |
| * Corrugated cardboard |
Other cardboard products like moving boxes, cardboard
tubes |
| * Cereal & cracker boxes |
Microwave food boxes |
| * Office paper |
Office paper, tissue |
| * Newspaper |
Newspaper, cardboard, egg cartons and building materials
like drywall sheets and roofing |
| * Magazines |
Paper board, such as cereal boxes and various building
supplies |
| * Telephone Books |
Newsprint, ceiling tiles, textbook covers, insulation,
and envelopes for your telephone bills |
| Polycoated paper board (milk and juice cartons, tetra
paks) |
Tissue paper, towels, stationery |
| * PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) #1 plastic, 2-litre
soda bottles |
Carpet, scouring pads, insulation, fiberfill for stuffed
toys and pillows, carpeting, T-shirts, backpacks, and
non-food containers |
| * HDPE (High density polyethylene) #2 plastic (juice,
shampoo, bleach bottles) |
New plastic bottles, car parts, trash and recycling
bins, traffic cones, "plastic wood" for benches,
docks, playgrounds, and recycling bins |
| V (Vinyl) #3 plastic (cooking oil bottles, meat packaging) |
Packaging, siding, parking stops, floor tiles, notebook covers, traffic cones, and medical tubing |
| LDPE (Low density polyethylene) # 4 plastic (dry cleaning
bags, plastic shopping bags) |
Footwear, plastic lumber |
| PP (Polypropylene) # 5 plastic (margarine, yogurt,
cottage cheese containers) |
Plastic lumber |
| PS (Polystyrene) # 6 plastic (plastic disposable plates,
cups, cutlery, foam packaging) |
Durable consumer products like file trays and compact
disk trays |
| * Metal food, beverage cans |
Variety of steel products (soda cans, car parts, aluminum
siding) |
| * All plastic food containers #1 & #2 |
Window pane glass |
| Aluminum trays & foil |
New trays & foil |
| Glass |
Glass |
| Waste Tires |
Playground safety surfacing, resilient tiles, rubberized
asphalt, carpet padding, and insulation for wires
and pipes |
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Sponsored by the County of Los Angeles