Recycling Cycle

1. Common items collected for recycling

• Aluminum cans
• Clear, green, blue and brown glass
• Corrugated cardboard
• Newspaper and glossy advertising inserts
• Plastic bottles that have a neck smaller than the base
• Steel or tin cans

• If your recyclable material is collected all mixed together (commingled), it is taken to a recycling plant where it is separated
• First, the newspaper and cardboard are separated from other recyclables using a sticky conveyor belt
• Next, a magnet separates the steel cans
• Aluminum cans are separated from other recyclables by an eddy current (a reverse magnet)

• Once the material is separated, it is sent to other factories to be made into new products.
• Newspaper and cardboard are shredded, pulped, dried and flattened into new rolls of paper
• The steel and aluminum cans are crushed, melted, and flattened into sheets of metal.
• The glass pieces are crushed, melted and remolded into new bottles or jars
• Plastic bottles are chipped, melted, and remolded

• You can buy school supplies made from recycled materials such as backpacks and rulers made from recycled plastic.
• aluminum cans can be remade into new cans, they can also become lawn furniture or gutters.
• Corrugated cardboard and newspaper can become pens, pencils, paper, cereal boxes or insulation.
• Glass can be recycled into new bottles, jars or even tiles.
• Plastic bottles can be made into new soda bottles, picnic tables, carpet and clothing.
• Steel cans can be made into bikes, nails or even cars.
• Tires can be made into bulletin boards, floor mats, mulch, soaker hoses or shoe soles.