Recycling Containers and Packaging Key Terms

Learn the common key words that revolve around recycling containers and packaging

Whether it's dealing with containers or recycling plants, gaining knowledge about the various aspects of recycling can be beneficial to your company. Brush up on some key terms to educate yourself and others that you work with, such as vendors, employees or others who share like-minded businesses.

 

Biocompostable

Biocompostable materials refer to plastic and paper products that disintegrate and biodegrade completely. This can only occur when they are used for compost in a municipal or commercial facility. Check with your recycler to determine if they offer this type of recycling, as it is an environmentally-friendly option.
Try: Check out Coextruded Plastic Technologies to learn more about biocompostable materials.

Recycling event kiosks

If you host events and wish to allow for recycling at the gathering, then positioning plastic recycling event kiosks around the area can promote recycling.
Try: See examples of plastic recycling event kiosks at RecyclingBin.com.

Buy-back center

A buy-back center is a facility that purchases small amounts of recycled materials from the public. These facilities pay the patron for the materials.
Try: Visit the Western Placer Waste Management Authority to learn more about what types of materials might be accepted at a buy-back center.

Chlorofluorocarbons

In the early 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency implemented new recycling programs to help the earth's ozone layer. Instead of releasing chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, into the air, companies are required to harness the gas for reuse. Automobile air conditioners and refrigerators are two of the biggest users of CFCs.
Try: Visit the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium to learn more about what chlorofluorocarbons are composed of and how they're used.

File stock

File stock is a special grade of mixed office papers that might normally be thrown away. These files might come from offices, archives, records centers or libraries. You should check with your recycler to see if they accept file stock.
Try: Learn about some of the types of papers and materials that might or might not be included with file stock at Recycling & Shredding Services.

Plastic recycling codes

If you choose to offer recycling for plastic, then you should be able to inform your employees about the types of plastic that can be reused. Become familiar with plastic recycling codes, which are the numbers placed inside triangles on plastic containers.
Try: Learn all about plastic recycling codes at The Go Green Blog.

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