Green Matters™
by Crissy Trask
Welcome to my blog where I share almost anything I think will help make greener living undeniable and simple. News, tips, insight and resources served up weekly. I also share my perspectives on others' perspectives and actions. Agree or disagree, I hope you will find them thought-provoking and a starting point for conversation.
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MAY 26, 2009 A Closer Look at the Definition of 'Recycled" and Some Other "Re"-Words
Something's been on my mind lately. It's the fact that the word "recycled" is being used by many to describe anything that's been diverted from the waste stream. But in truth, "recycled" refers only to things that have been produced from remanufactured recycled material. For other things that are being diverted from the waste stream, there are more accurate terms like "reclaimed", "reused" or "composted". Here's my interpretation of what all these terms mean:
If something is "recycled" it's been newly manufactured with a percentage of recycled materials. "Recycled material" is a formerly whole material or product that has been recovered and broken down (e.g. pulverized or melted) to create a second (or third or fourth…) generation raw material which is then used to produce a new material or product. Examples include deck boards made with the plastic from HDPE milk jugs and paper made from recovered waste paper.
Something is considered "reclaimed" when it has been either accidentally or deliberately found and recovered with the intention of diverting it from the waste stream and making use of it elsewhere in either its current or a refurbished state. Examples include building materials and architectural pieces (i.e. brick, moldings, countertops, light fixtures, etc.) that are salvaged during demolition projects and reused as is or repurposed.
Many durable goods are being made with reclaimed materials too, such as handbags made from reclaimed seatbelts, snack bags or newspaper. Anything reclaimed is also reused, but something reused is not always reclaimed.
"Reused" is a broad term. Basically the "green" definition of reused is anything that is passed from one user to another--as in the case of hand-me-downs--or diverted from the waste stream for extended use, such as when using the same plastic Ziplock bag over and over again. Substituting permanent products for disposable products is also reuse, such as when electing to use a steel thermos instead of a paper cup to hold your coffeehouse beverage. The reason reuse is not recycling is because reuse involves using something in its current form or deconstructing something to make use of individual parts.
Something is "composted" if it started as organic material and decomposed in an aerobic environment. Composted food or yard waste is not "recycled" since the process happens naturally. (See "recycled above.)
2009 BLOG INDEX
Posts by Topic
Air Quality
6/8/09, Leaf Blowers:
An Environmental Nightmare
Cleaning
4/14/09, Don’t
Be So Quick to Blame the Low-Phosphate Detergent
Energy
7/6/09, It’s Summer
Time and the Livin’ is ‘Green’!
4/7/09, Window Films Can Lower Your
Cooling Bills and Your Tax Liability
3/14/09, Bundle Your
Gadgets
Food
10/27/09, Super
Freakonomics Authors Come Down Hard on Local Food
10/22/09, Hey Foodies, What
Are You Feeding Your Pets?
Green Terms
5/26/09, A Closer Look
at the Definition of “Recycled” and Some Other “Re”
Words
Plastic, and other Trash
7/13/09, Will a
Ban on Bottled Water Lad to Bad Beverage Choices?
4/22/09, Bottled Water
Gets Reinvented
3/2/09, Inefficient Packaging
Awards (No. 1)
Perspectives
9/14/09, Gullibility
is Derailing Progress
8/24/09, Check
Your Lifestyle Before Bragging About Recycling
8/19/09, Simple
Solutions Won’t Work Alone: Comprehensive is the True Agent
of Change
2/22/09, The Unhappiest Generation
2/12/09, Inauguration
Attendees Fail to Demonstrate Change
Reduce
8/5/09, Direct
Mail Marketers Want to Force Junk Mail on Us
3/21/09, Better
Yard Sales
1/25/09, Wasting Trees:
Why I Hate Junk Mail
Reuse
10/14/09, Wrapping
with Your Butcher
5/7/09, Craigslist Buyers Are a Flakey Bunch on the Whole
Recycling
6/22/09, Not
Separating Your Recyclables from Your Trash Can Hurt
3/4/09, Recycle Your
Water Filters
Transportation
6/15/09, Avoid
Hot Car Syndrome to Reduce Emissions…and Discomfort
Water
3/27/09,
Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a
Drop…
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