Why is trash a big Why is trash a big problem?problem?

1. Litter on the ground1. Litter on the ground

2. Trash in Landfills

Trash thrown on the ground…

Ends up in our creeks…

Which lead to the ocean!

The ocean is FULL of Plastic!

2,000,000,000,000 pounds of plastic

What happens to the stuff we put into the

trash can?

A garbage truck picks it up and A garbage truck picks it up and brings it to…brings it to…

… … aa Sanitary Landfill! Sanitary Landfill!

A compactor packs it A compactor packs it down.down.

Bulldozers push it Bulldozers push it around.around.

Does trash make Does trash make anything?anything?

1.1.MethaneMethane-It heats up the

world!

2. Leachates Leachates - Toxic Garbage

Soup!

Yes!Yes!

How much trash do we make?

In Santa Cruz County?

1,092,81,092,85757

pounds!pounds!Every day!Every day!

Does your School’s trash look like Does your School’s trash look like thisthis

after lunch? after lunch?

Is your trash can filled with these?

What happens when we What happens when we recycle something?recycle something?

How do things (cans, bottles, How do things (cans, bottles, paper) get recycled?paper) get recycled?

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Front loaders dump it onto conveyor belts

People sort recyclables at People sort recyclables at the MRFthe MRF

Machines also sort Machines also sort recyclables.recyclables.

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This machine sorts plastic bottlesThis machine sorts plastic bottles

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After it is sorted, After it is sorted, it is crushed into cubes it is crushed into cubes

Just like Wall-E Just like Wall-E did!did!

Companies buy the cubes of crushed Companies buy the cubes of crushed cans and make new cans out of them!cans and make new cans out of them!

Recycling helps the planet!

It saves an enormous amount of…

1. EnergyEnergy (oil)

2. Natural resourcesNatural resources (like trees, mountains, water, air, soil)

3. And reducesreduces

pollution!pollution!

What does it take to

make an aluminum

can?We can eliminate FOUR of the seven steps when we recycle.

aluminum can

What can be recycled?What can be recycled?1. All Hard Plastic containers: yogurt cups, food trays; water

bottles Plastic utensils (put them in a bag); Plastic Take-out food

containers, laundry detergent bottles, 2. All Metal (tin, aluminum cans & foil, pet food cans) Aerosol

cans, small metal appliances, steel, iron.3. Glass jars, bottles+ tops to bottles (both plastic and metal

tops)4. Paper: White & colored paper, Newspaper, magazines, glossy

paper, junk mail, all envelopes, catalogues, Also Juice boxes (all aseptic containers), empty Milk cartons &

frozen food packaging and empty paper cups5. Plastic bags – (bag your bags), bubble wrap, bread bags,

ziploc bags6. Mixed Paper: manila folders, egg cartons, telephone books,

paper bags, mostly clean paper plates, butcher paper, construction paper, etc.

7. Cardboard: cardboard boxes (flattened), paperboard, cereal boxes

8. Assorted: Batteries (put them in a sealed bag),

What you do makes a difference for all of us!

ThankThankYouYou