RECYCLING MANUFACTURED MATERIALS Environmentalists the world over have recognized that modern civilization has brought the

global environment to the brink of destruction. In the quest for economic growth, man has polluted the land, sea and air; meanwhile natural resources and forests have been reduced to alarming proportions. In an effort to improve living standards, man has brought planet earth to the brink of total ruin and destruction. What we fail to realise is that the lives of people including ourselves are all linked together. Therefore, what every citizen of the world does (good or bad) has an impact on our planet. Recycling should now be considered as one of the most viable options of reversing this trend of environmental degradation.

WHAT IS RECYCLING? As we become more technologically advanced, we produce materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, are durable and easy to use. Plastic bags, synthetics, plastic bottles, tin cans, and computer hardware- these are some of the things that make life easy for us. But what we forget is that these advanced products do not break down naturally. When we dispose them in a garbage pile, the air, moisture, climate, or soil cannot break them down naturally to be dissolved with the surrounding land. They are biodegradable. However, natural waste and products made from nature break down easily when they are disposed as waste. But as more and more biodegradable materials pile up, there is increased threat to the environment. We therefore have to recycle thee biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Recycling is the process of making or manufacturing new products from a product that has originally served its purpose. Recycling can be a very complex process. It involves: The collection of waste materials through kerbside collection or drop-off centres Sorting of these materials at a Materials Recovery Facility (this is the name given to recycling centres) Processing those materials into a form which can act as a substitute for virgin materials (for example, recycled glass cullet, or pelletized plastic) Manufacturers using these sorted materials to make new and useful products

Materials that can be recycled Paper Plastics Bottles Glass Aluminium Cans Used automobile oil Tyres Iron and steel from derelict vehicles, fridges and stoves

The following table outlines the estimated amount of time it takes these everyday household items to decompose when they are exposed to light and air. ITEMS Notebook paper Comic book Wooden cricket bat Steel can Aluminium soda can Polystyrene foam cup Car tire Glass bottle THE GENERAL RECYCLING PROCESS Each household must sort and have suitable containers for rubbish and recyclables. The recyclables must then be further separated into glass plastic metal and so on, and placed in separate containers. The recycling process involves three main steps, which form a circle or loop. They are: 1. Collecting the recyclables 2. Processing the recyclables and turning them into recycled-content products 3. Purchasing recycled products STEP 1 COLLECTION In the first step of the recycling process, the recyclables materials are collected. The methods of collection may vary from community to community. However, there are four main methods of collection namely curb-side, drop-off centres, buy-back centres, and deposit/refund programs. After collection, the recyclables are then sent to a materials-recovery facility to be sorted and prepared into marketable commodities to be sold to processing companies. ESTIMATED YEARS 3 months 6 months 20 years 100 years 350 years Maybe never Maybe never Maybe never

STEP 2 PROCESSING In the second step of the recycling process, the recyclables are processed. Once cleaned and sorted, the recyclables are processed to retrieve the raw materials, and the raw materials are then used in manufacturing recycled-content products. All recyclables need to be broken down, melted or liquefied into its basic elements, before it can be either made directly into new materials or mixed with virgin resources and made into new materials. However, the method of processing for different materials varies. For example, recyclables like glass, aluminium cans and steel need to be melted into a liquid form and then remoulded into new products. Recyclables such as glass, paper and certain plastic products may have to be crushed, or shredded, as part of the processing to extract the basic elements or raw materials (e.g. fibre in paper) for use in making new products. STEP 3 PURCHASING RECYCLED PRODUCTS The third step involves purchasing recycled products. This third step completes the recycling loop. The 3 steps are applicable to all recyclables. Nonetheless, step 2 of the process may vary in method for different types of recyclables. More and more of todays products are being manufactures with total or partial recycled content. Whether you are just an individual consumer, or are a part of a government or business organization, you have an important role in making recycling a success by buying recycled. As consumers demand more environmentally sound products, manufacturers will continue to meet that demand by producing high-quality recycled products.

RECYCLING BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS As was stated before, biodegradable materials are mainly bio-based natural materials that go through the processes of fermentation, chemical synthesis or monomer polymerization of fossil products to make degradable polyester. When biodegradable products are exposed to the air, they will not be degraded; only when sufficient humidity, oxygen and the appropriate amount of microorganisms are present, which exists in natural landfills or manure, will the biodegradable products breakdown into H2O and CO2 by microorganisms in 20-45. Biodegradable products include those that consist of food waste, paper wood and fabric. In the absence of moisture and air, decomposition slows and methane, a greenhouse gas, is released. With the proper treatment, biodegradable waste can be recycled and reused for composting, animal feed, or converted into energy. Composting is a common way of recycling many biodegradable materials. It is natures process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost. By composting

biodegradable waste, you are returning nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue. Paper Recycling Paper is made of tiny fibres. Because these fibres eventually become weak, paper cannot be recycled forever. Most types of paper can be recycled, but some types those with a glossy or waxy coating are too expensive to recycle. Paper is brought to the recycling centre. The paper is sorted and transported to a pulping facility. The paper is soaked and heated in huge vats, becoming pulp. Chemicals in the liquid separate the ink from the paper. The pulp is screened and cleaned to remove glue, other debris and any remaining ink. The pulp is refined and beaten to make it ready to become paper again. The pulp is fed into a machine that spits out the pulp onto a flat moving screen where it forms sheets. The sheets are rolled and dried and ready for their new life.

ADVANTAGES OF BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS The structures of the materials are similar to carbohydrates, which are toxic free. The materials do not cause any undesired impact to the environment with any type of waste management (such as incineration, landfills, recycling and manure). It may replace the petrol-based plastics with similar features owned by the traditional plastic products; the applications of the biodegradable products would be the same. The management of landfill or manure disposal may completely degrade the materials.

N.B. Bio-plastic is packaging made of biopolymers or biomass that consist of elements such as corn, sugar cane, potatoes, grass, plants and other decomposable matters that break down naturally in the earth.