Single-Stream Recycling101
Click to get started!
Learn, identify, sort, take action!
Single-stream Recycling 101
Click for good news!
Hi there! Weclome to Single-Stream 101! We're glad you are here! Did you know that a 2018 Harris Poll found that 66% of Americans agree that “if a product is not easy/convenient for me to recycle, I probably would not recycle it.” Single-Stream recycling is an answer to that problem. Single-stream recycling is a system in which all recyclables, including newspaper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, junk mail, etc., are placed in a single bin or cart for recycling. These recyclables are collected and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted and processed which can be used in the manufacture of new products. Click the eye on the right to see a visual of the single-stream process: We have a lot to talk about, so click on the arrow to proceed:
Acceptablevs. Unacceptable Items
We have a Big Word of the Day! Click to learn more:
Recycling is a wonderful thing. It keeps items out of landfills and even helps communities save money. In general, single stream means you can put paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal objects together. However, there are guidelines for what should and shouldn’t go into a single stream bin. Items that are not accepted for single-stream collection are sent to the landfill and no one wants that! Click on an item below to learn more about each item and their recyclability:
How about a test...Or a game?
Click for more good news!
Are you ready to put your single-stream recycling superpowers into action? Before you do, we would like to review what you've learned about acceptable items for single-stream collection. We thought of assigning a test, but reconsidered as games are a lot more fun than tests. What would you like to do next?
Test your knowledge by playing a sorting game (fun test!). Click the image above!
Resources!
Need to go back?
Do you know your recyclables?
Start
1/10
2/10
3/10
4/10
5/10
6/10
7/10
8/10
9/10
10/10
End of the quiz!
You are on your way to becoming a recycling super hero! Proceed to the next page for more!
Resources for recycling super heroes
Backwards!
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about single-stream recyclying. If you would like to revisit a previous section, click the green arrow in the upper righthand corner. Recycling provides many benefits to our environment and our communities. By recycling our materials, we create a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations. It's time to put your single-stream recycling superpowers in action! To help you do this, please make use of the resources by clicking an icon below:
Click here for a single-stream resource guide you can save to your device for future reference!
Click here to find recycling resources in your area!
Did you know that you can compost common household items such as food scraps, certain mixed papers, and cardboard?
7 Types of plastic? Yep, learn more about them and what you can do about plastic consumption here!
Big Word of the Day:
Comingle or co-min·gle
verb (used with or without object), co·min·gled, co·min·gling.
Commingled recycling, aka single-stream recycling, is the system in which all plastic, metals, paper, and other recyclables are mixed into a single collection truck. This means residents do not need to sort these recyclables beforehand; they are sorted by when they arrive at a material recovery facility (MRF). Learn more about Commingling:
What Is Commingled Recycling?
Recycling Plastics
More than 35 million tons of plastics were generated in the United States in 2018 and only 8.7 percent was recycled. Some types of plastics are not accepted in community recycling programs. Check with your local recycling program to find out which types of plastic they accept. When possible, purchase products made from recycled plastic materials. Learn more about the 7 types of plastic by clicking this link:
7 Types Plastic? Yep...
Mixed Paper Items
67.9% of paper
was recycled in
the U.S. in 2022!
How to recycle Mixed Paper All clean and dry paper can be recycled including corrugated cardboard boxes, newspapers and inserts, magazines, cereal and other boxes (boxboard), telephone books, white and colored computer and office paper, paperback and hardcover books, greeting cards, wrapping paper and gift bags, envelopes and unwanted mail catalogs.
- When it comes to recycling paper items, remember to keep them dry and clean. Also, remove any confidential information before disposing.
- Nearly 70% more paper recycled today than in 1990!
Can I Recycle That? Mixed Paper Guide (video)
Recycling Cardboard
Cardboard is one of the easiest and most common materials to recycle!
According to a recent Yale University study, the US has currently reached a recycling level of 24.1%. As we continue in our journey of recycling cardboard and other materials, the US has the potential to positively impact the environment at a 75% recycling level. Reaching around a 75% recycling level has the same positive impact as removing roughly 55 million cars from the roads. Need a visual? How Cardboard is Recycled:
- Paper fibers break down when they’re wet, so it’s important to keep your cardboard dry.
- Cardboard is a highly recyclable material that’s widely accepted for recycling. By choosing to recycle cardboard, we can all play a role in creating a more sustainable future.
Is Cardboard Recyclable? Why yes, it is!
This animated video takes you on a tour of a Material Recovery Facility or “MRF”, highlighting some of the standard technology used and the importance of recycling. Remember to RecycleOften.RecycleRight!
Aluminium and steel, the two most commonly used forms of metal packaging are both infinitely recyclable. Metal can be used for lots of different types of packaging and is permanent, meaning it can be used again and again. 630 steel cans are recycled every second in the U.S. Recycling aluminum uses 90 percent less energy than making primary-production aluminum! That's good news! Let's keep going!
The Environmental Protection Agency reports
Recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products.
This leads to positive impacts for climate change! According to the most recent EPA data, the recycling and composting of municipal solid waste (MSW or trash) saved over 193 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2018. That's good news! Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2ab53uvr
NIH Environmental Management System reports:
It takes 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to make it from raw materials. Making products from recyclables results in energy savings. Recycled steel saves 60% production energy, recycled newspaper 40% production energy, recycled plastics 70% production energy, and recycled glass 40% production energy.
Using scrap steel instead of virgin ore to make new steel takes 40% less water and creates 97% less mining waste. That's good news! Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/57mv4dnb
Recycling Glass
Glass containers are 64% clear, 23% brown, and 13% green.
Recycling glass is easy and makes it possible to make new glass bottles and jars in as little as 30 days. By saving on raw material, using less energy, and cutting CO2 emissions, recycling results in vast environmental pay offs.
Glass can be recycled endlessly with no loss in quality or purity. In 2018, 31.3% of glass food and beverage packaging containers were recycled. In some states, like California, glass bottle recycling reaches over 80%. Learn more:
- Recycling one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
- Glass containers were recycled at a rate of 38% in 1996.
- For every 6 tons of recycled glass, one ton of carbon dioxide creation is avoided.
A Class on Glass (recycling)
Single Stream Recycling 101
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Transcript
Single-Stream Recycling101
Click to get started!
Learn, identify, sort, take action!
Single-stream Recycling 101
Click for good news!
Hi there! Weclome to Single-Stream 101! We're glad you are here! Did you know that a 2018 Harris Poll found that 66% of Americans agree that “if a product is not easy/convenient for me to recycle, I probably would not recycle it.” Single-Stream recycling is an answer to that problem. Single-stream recycling is a system in which all recyclables, including newspaper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, junk mail, etc., are placed in a single bin or cart for recycling. These recyclables are collected and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted and processed which can be used in the manufacture of new products. Click the eye on the right to see a visual of the single-stream process: We have a lot to talk about, so click on the arrow to proceed:
Acceptablevs. Unacceptable Items
We have a Big Word of the Day! Click to learn more:
Recycling is a wonderful thing. It keeps items out of landfills and even helps communities save money. In general, single stream means you can put paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal objects together. However, there are guidelines for what should and shouldn’t go into a single stream bin. Items that are not accepted for single-stream collection are sent to the landfill and no one wants that! Click on an item below to learn more about each item and their recyclability:
How about a test...Or a game?
Click for more good news!
Are you ready to put your single-stream recycling superpowers into action? Before you do, we would like to review what you've learned about acceptable items for single-stream collection. We thought of assigning a test, but reconsidered as games are a lot more fun than tests. What would you like to do next?
Test your knowledge by playing a sorting game (fun test!). Click the image above!
Resources!
Need to go back?
Do you know your recyclables?
Start
1/10
2/10
3/10
4/10
5/10
6/10
7/10
8/10
9/10
10/10
End of the quiz!
You are on your way to becoming a recycling super hero! Proceed to the next page for more!
Resources for recycling super heroes
Backwards!
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about single-stream recyclying. If you would like to revisit a previous section, click the green arrow in the upper righthand corner. Recycling provides many benefits to our environment and our communities. By recycling our materials, we create a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations. It's time to put your single-stream recycling superpowers in action! To help you do this, please make use of the resources by clicking an icon below:
Click here for a single-stream resource guide you can save to your device for future reference!
Click here to find recycling resources in your area!
Did you know that you can compost common household items such as food scraps, certain mixed papers, and cardboard?
7 Types of plastic? Yep, learn more about them and what you can do about plastic consumption here!
Big Word of the Day:
Comingle or co-min·gle verb (used with or without object), co·min·gled, co·min·gling.
Commingled recycling, aka single-stream recycling, is the system in which all plastic, metals, paper, and other recyclables are mixed into a single collection truck. This means residents do not need to sort these recyclables beforehand; they are sorted by when they arrive at a material recovery facility (MRF). Learn more about Commingling:
What Is Commingled Recycling?
Recycling Plastics
More than 35 million tons of plastics were generated in the United States in 2018 and only 8.7 percent was recycled. Some types of plastics are not accepted in community recycling programs. Check with your local recycling program to find out which types of plastic they accept. When possible, purchase products made from recycled plastic materials. Learn more about the 7 types of plastic by clicking this link:
7 Types Plastic? Yep...
Mixed Paper Items
67.9% of paper was recycled in the U.S. in 2022!
How to recycle Mixed Paper All clean and dry paper can be recycled including corrugated cardboard boxes, newspapers and inserts, magazines, cereal and other boxes (boxboard), telephone books, white and colored computer and office paper, paperback and hardcover books, greeting cards, wrapping paper and gift bags, envelopes and unwanted mail catalogs.
Can I Recycle That? Mixed Paper Guide (video)
Recycling Cardboard
Cardboard is one of the easiest and most common materials to recycle!
According to a recent Yale University study, the US has currently reached a recycling level of 24.1%. As we continue in our journey of recycling cardboard and other materials, the US has the potential to positively impact the environment at a 75% recycling level. Reaching around a 75% recycling level has the same positive impact as removing roughly 55 million cars from the roads. Need a visual? How Cardboard is Recycled:
Is Cardboard Recyclable? Why yes, it is!
This animated video takes you on a tour of a Material Recovery Facility or “MRF”, highlighting some of the standard technology used and the importance of recycling. Remember to RecycleOften.RecycleRight!
Aluminium and steel, the two most commonly used forms of metal packaging are both infinitely recyclable. Metal can be used for lots of different types of packaging and is permanent, meaning it can be used again and again. 630 steel cans are recycled every second in the U.S. Recycling aluminum uses 90 percent less energy than making primary-production aluminum! That's good news! Let's keep going!
The Environmental Protection Agency reports
Recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products. This leads to positive impacts for climate change! According to the most recent EPA data, the recycling and composting of municipal solid waste (MSW or trash) saved over 193 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2018. That's good news! Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2ab53uvr
NIH Environmental Management System reports:
It takes 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to make it from raw materials. Making products from recyclables results in energy savings. Recycled steel saves 60% production energy, recycled newspaper 40% production energy, recycled plastics 70% production energy, and recycled glass 40% production energy. Using scrap steel instead of virgin ore to make new steel takes 40% less water and creates 97% less mining waste. That's good news! Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/57mv4dnb
Recycling Glass
Glass containers are 64% clear, 23% brown, and 13% green.
Recycling glass is easy and makes it possible to make new glass bottles and jars in as little as 30 days. By saving on raw material, using less energy, and cutting CO2 emissions, recycling results in vast environmental pay offs. Glass can be recycled endlessly with no loss in quality or purity. In 2018, 31.3% of glass food and beverage packaging containers were recycled. In some states, like California, glass bottle recycling reaches over 80%. Learn more:
A Class on Glass (recycling)