Recycle It

Un-scrambling the Recycling Process

RecycleLink is here as a resource not only to help Lincoln, Nebraska recycle, but also to clear up any questions you might have about exactly what happens to those cans, newspapers, egg cartons and junk mail you just might end up seeing again…maybe next time as a cereal box.

We’re happy to take you step-by-step through the collection, sorting and recycling sequence of events, and introduce you to other places you might find useful for additional information.

Recycling step-by-step

Single Stream. What Does it Mean?

RecycleLink uses a single-stream recycling process to efficiently collect Lincoln area recyclables. Single-stream recycling allows for all recyclables to be dumped into one cart and then compacted into one truck at collection. This allows recyclers to easily collect and store recyclables. Single-stream also allows RecycleLink to collect more recyclables on collection day reducing the amount of trucks on the road ultimately reducing the amount of fuel used during collection.

OK, you’ve put your recyclables into one cart. Now what?

On pick-up day, RecycleLink dumps the recyclables into the recycling truck and unloads the mixed recyclables at Firstar Fiber, the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). (At time of collection that is when the recyclables are weighed and you are rewarded RecycleBank Points. See how RecycleLink Records and Rewards you for recycling.)

The unsorted mix paper, plastic, and metal is dumped onto a conveyor belt and then towards a series of sorting disc screens. First the cardboard is sorted off, next paper is removed from the plastics and metal, and finally the plastics and metal are sorted by magnets and conveyor belts. Once all the recyclables are sorted they are baled into 2,000 pound bales and shipped to recycling mills all over the world to be made into new recycled products.

Plastics: A Guide
  • #1 PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) is the most recycled plastic. Recycled PET is used to make bottles for cleaning products or other non-food containers, egg cartons, sailboat hulls, industrial paints, and fiber products (carpets, t-shirts, and jackets).
  • # 2 HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is the most widely used household plastic. Recycled HDPE is used to make plastic lumber, plastic toys, traffic barrier cones, trash cans, detergent bottles, garbage bags and grocery bags.
  • # 3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the plastic used in flooring, plumbing, shower curtains, house siding and garden hoses. Though PVC is harder to recycle, it can be processed to make drainage piping, fencing, handrails and house siding.
  • # 5 PP (polypropylene) is a component in tubes, automotive battery casings, and long underwear. Though not often recycled, there is the potential to create auto parts, batteries, bird feeders, furniture, pails, water meter boxes, bag dispensers, golf equipment, carpets, recycling containers, Recycling Polystyrene or Polystyrene Foamand industrial fibers.

Material by Material

Paper

In the single-stream recycling process, fast-moving rotators on the belt separate newspaper, cardboard and other paper from the rest of the items. Once separated, the paper is bundled and is ready for re-processing. At a newspaper re-processing facility, the bundled newspapers are de-inked through a chemical washing process. The type is literally lifted from the paper fiber. Then, the rinsed wastepaper is mixed with water and chemicals until it is reduced to pulp. The pulp mix is then diluted with water and passes through screens for additional cleaning. This is done to remove contaminants like plastic, string, and even glue. The mixture is then pressed to remove the water and goes through a kneading machine. During kneading, the pulp fibers are rubbed against each other, further loosening any remaining inks, before once again going through an ink removal process. By the time the pulp gets to the end of the belt, it’s solid enough to be lifted off and fed through steam-heated rollers that further dry and flatten it into a continuous sheet of paper.

For more on paper recycling and re-processing, see:

Metal

During the sorting process, metal and cans are literally pulled away from the mess with heavy-duty magnets. The metal is then crushed and flattened, baled together, and sent on to the appropriate mill. At the mill or smelter, the cans are exposed to high heat and melted down and cast into molds called ingots. These ingots are sent on to manufacturing plants where they are rolled into sheets of aluminum and used to manufacture end products ranging from cans to castings to car bodies.

For more on metal recycling, see:

Plastic

Plastics aren’t all the same. Look at the bottom of any plastic container for a symbol numbered between 1 and 7—this indicates the type of plastic used to make the container and how it should be recycled. Plastic recycling varies for each type, but follows the same general path: Collected plastic is sent to a reclaimer who sorts, grinds and cleans the plastic. The resulting ground-up plastic can further go through the recycling plant’s extruder, where water is removed. Then, the plastic is melted and chemically broken down in a process called depolymerization. The resulting polymer can then be re-formed into new plastic items.

For more on plastic recycling, visit: