In 1994, researchers discovered unusually high rates of lupus and multiple myeloma (a bone marrow cancer) among Arizona residents in Tucson and Nogales. These researchers theorized that the high rates could be attributed to exposure to toxic chemicals....
“They live in the closet like ghosts of simpler times. Dead monitors. Obsolete PCs. Fried printers. A lot of junk has collected after 20 years of the PC.” —P.J. Huffstutter, technology writer for the Los Angeles Times Computers have...
Recycling is any process that involves the recovery and reuse of materials that were once considered trash. Recycling can be as simple as reusing something—such as a coat or computer—by passing it on for someone else to use. Or, it can be...
Recycling waste is not a new idea. Throughout history, people have disposed garbage in myriad ways. They fed household garbage to domestic animals. Scavengers gleaned the waste stream for usable items that could be fixed, then sold or traded for...
Resource recovery is the process of recovering materials or energy from solid waste for reuse. The aim is to make the best use of the economic, environmental, and social costs of these materials before they are permanently laid to rest in a landfill....
The United States consumes over $10.4 billion in batteries annually, powering everything from children's toys to hearing aids. Because batteries contain certain toxic substances, such as cadmium, lead, and sulfuric acid, introducing them into...
Recyclables are products or materials that can be separated from the waste stream and used again in place of raw materials. Since colonial times, Americans have recycled a host of materials, ranging from corn husks used for mattress stuffing to old...
Recycling is a way to conserve natural resources by salvaging metals, paper, plastic, glass, and other materials used in packaging and industry, and turning them into new and usable products. Successful recycling involves a three-step process:...
Earth Day 1970 suggested to millions of Americans that environmental concern could be expressed locally. Through organized activities, many citizens found that they could actively improve the environment with their own hands. Many communities responded...
Founded in 1978, the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) is a non-profit organization comprised of concerned individuals and environmental, labor, and business organizations who wish to promote the recovery and reuse of materials and energy. Believing...
The chemistry of recycling involves the treatment of commercial products to remove and isolate components for reuse in other products. The materials most commonly recycled are paper products, metals, glass, and plastics. Nearly one third of all...
Precycling is source reduction and reuse. In most waste management planning the hierarchy is Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Reduction and reuse are the first lines of defense against increasing waste volume. Precycling are those actions that can be taken...
The process whereby waste or discarded material, which would otherwise be sent for disposal, can be reprocessed into usable raw materials or saleable items. Recycling is seen as a key component in reducing the reliance on LANDFILL or INCINERATION as a...
1 The reuse of scarce raw materials, especially paper, glass and metals. 2 The redistribution of financial reserves from creditor to debtor countries. After OPEC’s price increases of 1973–4, the surpluses of the oil producers were lent on...
Recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products. Recycling generally prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, reduces the consumption of raw materials and reduces energy usage, and hence greenhouse gas emissions, compared to...
