Explaining the Recycling Symbol
You can find the chasing arrow symbol on many of your favorite products, issuing a call to action that you should recycle. But the symbol itself involves much more than just dropping off your products in a bin.
In fact, the process of collecting and sorting these items is just one of the three arrows. Once products are recycled, there’s still work to be done for the loop to be completed. Here’s a quick overview on the steps involved in recycling:
Collection
Collection comes in many forms, from curbside recycling to drop-off facilities to municipal events. No matter what the product, the first step in recycling is to collect and sort.
In the case of plastic, you will find a number inside the recycling symbol. This is used during collection, because the number designates the type of plastic. Plastic bottles can’t be recycled with Styrofoam as the molecules don’t mix. The number lets you know if different plastics are molecule-compatible.
Collection also includes the sorting of these materials at a recycling center. Once they are sorted, recyclables can be sold off and reprocessed.
Reprocessing
It takes just 60 days for a recycled aluminum can to end up back on the grocery shelf. For glass bottles, it’s as little as 30 days. But a lot happens in this short time:
- For metals like steel, reprocessing involves melting down the products into one solid sheet of metal
- Paper recycling involves beating the fibers into slush and creating new paper from this slush
- Electronics products are broken down so valuable metals and hazardous materials can be removed
Reprocessing can involve creating the same product (a new aluminum can from an old aluminum can) or a completely different product (a park bench from recycled plastic milk jugs). It is the one part of the recycling process that doesn’t involve the consumer.
Buying Recycled
You may also hear this referred to as “closing the loop.” Without this step, the recycling symbol is incomplete.
Finding products made with recycled content is easier than you think. Companies are usually proud to show off that products and packaging are recycled.
Recycled content does not always mean 100 percent recycled. Sometimes, recycled material is mixed with raw material. This is usually marked, saying something like, “This product is made from 80% recycled paper.”
The recycling symbol is a loop because recycling is an infinite process. We just need to make sure there is participation on all three arrows.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
bravenewleaf
posted on February 26th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Sorting is an interesting step in the reprocessing process. For those of you who have a recycling facility in your area, I strongly urge you to take a tour and watch the sorters at work. It’s fascinating to witness the recycling process firsthand. I couldn’t believe how imprecise it is, the mistakes that are made, the types of things that can clog the machines, etc.
The learnings you can gather from visiting your recycling facility can help you green your recycling significantly!
http://www.bravenewleaf.com
Green news, tips and projects.
recycling symbol numbers
posted on May 2nd, 2008 at 7:06 am
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posted on May 24th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
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Bubba
posted on December 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Who designed this symbol. Does that person understand the power of a symbol? All caution should be taken in the process. Is the intent, that this will become a universally accepted? If so, I believe we need a mandate. More thought and discussion. Just my feeling, thought that I would share.
Mikey
posted on January 11th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Wikipedia has an article on the recycling symbol and who created it. Does anyone know if its use is mandatory? I see lots of plastic-like stuff with no recycling symbol on it, so it goes off to the landfill.
eric wood
posted on March 19th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
There still seems to be a reluctance to recycle. I really don’t understand it, esp. in this day of curbside pick-up and drop-off sites in grocery store parking lots.
It is very important to purchase recycled products, that will bring their price down and increase the market for recycling.
http://www.goinggreenaccidently.blogspot.com
greg stromberg
posted on May 28th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Have you seen the All American made Green Toy called Toobee “The worlds only amazing flying can” 100% recyclable
Great educational tool for schools and all the money goes to http://www.cannedwater4kids.org
j going
posted on July 21st, 2010 at 4:49 am
In an attempt to recycle – I find it easy to look for symbols.
What about the packages, containers, etc that show no symbol?
I am recognizing a need to purchase items with symbols, but meantime, would
appreciate info regarding items without symbols.