Earth Day:A Brief History

Chances are, if you are reading this blog, April 22nd is an important date for you; one that is synonymous with environmental care and awareness. It is, of course, Earth Day.

This important holiday has been observed for over 40 years, although many of us do not know how it began. Read on for a brief history of our planets' yearly day of appreciation and awareness.

 

Earth Day, as we know it, was founded in 1970 and initially began as a project put forth by Senator Gaylord Nelson, prompted by the antiwar protests of the late 1960s. During that time, Americans were becoming more aware of the effects of pollution on their environment. One of the bestselling books of the 1960s, “Silent Spring”, covered the dangerous effects of pesticides on America’s land and subsequently citizens.

Senator Nelson and supporters envisioned Earth Day as a “national teach-in on the environment”.  Nelson, who was elected to the US Senate in 1962 (D. Wisconsin), was inspired by the anti-Vietnam War “teach-ins” that were commonplace on college campuses at the time. According to Nelson, he wanted “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue (of environmental awareness) onto the national agenda.”

 

 

On April 22nd, 1970, the first Earth Day proceedings took place in the form of rallies held in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and many other cities across the country. These events succeeded in raising public awareness of the growing pollution problem throughout America. Nelson had focused the events on college students and hoped the publicized, (if somewhat grassroots) events would bring environmental causes into the national spotlight, which they did.

 

 

 

 

 

Since then, Earth Day celebrations have grown exponentially. In 1990, Earth Day finally went global as “200 million people in over 140 nations participated in events” according to the Earth Day Network (EDN), a nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day activities.

Thanks to its founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson, first ever “Earth Day” which was observed 45 years ago, was a huge success that spawned numerous others like it and solidified April 22nd as the nationally recognized holiday we celebrate today.

As of 2014, according to the EDN, “More than 1 billion people are involved in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.”

 

 

Here at American Disposal, we pride ourselves on participating in multiple Earth Day events each year. This year we will be present at numerous different venues celebrating our planet and spreading the word on how to best care for it!

If you find yourself in the area this Saturday, come by and see us at one of the following events to help us celebrate this important environmental holiday!

 

Saturday, April 25th

 

•  Fairfax Spring Fest, 10am-4pm

Location: The Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA 22079

 

• Alexandria Earth Day, 10am-2pm

 Location: Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Drive, Alexandria VA 22304

 

• Spring Mar Pre-School Touch-A-Truck, 10am-2pm

 Location: Lake Braddock High School,  9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015

 

• Montclair Earth Day Celebration, 8am-12pm

Location: Montclair Community, Dumfries VA

 

Thanks for reading and HAPPY EARTH DAY!

 

 

A Trip to The American Recycling Center

An Inside Look at the Incredible Journey Your Recyclables Take on their Way to Becoming New Goods

Many people have heard of recycling processing facilities like The American Recycling Center, but wonder exactly what process their recyclable items go through in order to be made into new, recycled goods.

We would like to answer that question by taking you on a virtual tour through each of the steps your recyclables take at the American Recycling Center. From the moment the truck arrives, to the moment those items are baled and ready to be sold, this is your backstage pass to the entire sorting and processing journey.

 

* Although all recycling processing facilities follow a similar process, the below steps are the specific order that The American Recycling Center takes to process the material we receive. We understand that each facility varies slightly in their process.

 

Step 1: Tipping Floor

When trucks arrive at the American Recycling Center, they are first weighed on a scale to record the total weight of the recyclable material they are carrying. They then proceed to a large concrete floor, where they dump out all of the recyclables from the back of the truck into a massive pile of unsorted material on the ground in this area, known as the tipping floor.
 

 

To see this process in action, click here

 

Step 2: Pre Sorting

After the tipping floor, materials are fed onto the first sorting station on a series of conveyor belts called the pre-sort station. Here, recycling sorters manually remove items too large to be separated by the sorting equipment. They also remove materials that contaminate the sorting process or damage the equipment; including plastic bags and films, bagged shredded paper, sharp objects, tires, wires or simply unrecyclable trash.

To see this process in action, click here

 

 

 

*Glass Sorting:

Glass is removed from the sorting equipment early in the process for several reasons. Glass is damaging, dirty and heavy. For these reasons, glass is a very difficult material to recycle.

 

 To see the glass sorting process in action, click here.

 

Step 4: Steel Sorting

At this point in the sorting process, the stream (which contains mainly containers) continues on the conveyer belts to a section that lies underneath a large rotating overhead magnet. All ferrous metals (any metal containing iron), like steel and tin cans, get pulled up and out of the material stream because of their magnetic properties. At the end of the magnet's rotation, the bi-metal steel containers and other materials made from ferrous metals drop off the magnet and into a bunker where they wait to be baled.

To see this process in action, click here
 

  

Step 5: Optical Sorting

Next on the sorting line is a set of optical sorters, which are highly advanced machines that scan, identify and sort specific materials. Essentially a "robot eye", the optical sorter can separate these materials thousands of times faster and more efficiently than by manual means.

They are programmed to recognize different materials that appear in the stream at this stage of the process: namely PET plastic containers (such as water and soda bottles), HDPE natural plastic containers (such as milk jugs), HDPE colored plastic containers (such as detergent and lotion bottles) and all manner of cartons.

When the optical sorter scans a particular item, it recognizes what material it is and a targeted jet of air shoots out beneath the item, shooting it into its own bunker with the other materials of its kind, where they also wait to be bailed.

To see this process in action, click here

 

Step 6: Aluminum Sorting

The material stream continues on to a special conveyor belt built for sorting aluminum. A large rotor drum is located at the end of this conveyor, underneath the belt. When the magnets located within this drum rotate at high speeds, they create an energy field known as an eddy current. As the material stream travels over this electromagnetic drum, the energy field propels nonferrous metals, like aluminum, out of the material stream and into a bunker for baling.

To see this process in action click here

 

 

Bailing

Once the materials have been sorted and separated by the above processes, they are fed into one of two bailing machines; one for lighter, easier to compress fibers (paper and cardboard) and one for denser, heavier materials like aluminum and steel.

The bailers press the material together very tightly and expel the bales, which are large blocks of each material type.

Once the materials are baled, they are stacked and stored where they wait to be purchased and shipped all over America and the world to be made into new, recycled goods.

 

Thanks for Reading (Learning)!

The (Cardboard) Suggestion Box

We Want To Hear Your Feedback!

 

Hi American Family and Green-Sceners!  

We are kicking off a new blog series entitled The Cardboard Suggestion Box, where we will be asking for your feedback, and suggestions. The first topic is…..our website.

American is considering updating our website and we need your help!

If you are an American customer, take a minute to tell us what features you would like to see from us when you get online.

Even if you aren’t a customer, just an environmentally minded follower of this blog, (remember you are family too!) we’d love to hear what YOU look for in a waste and recycling collector and processor’s website.

What would you like to see? What kind of options would make an online experience with American faster, easier, more informative or even more fun?

We want to provide you with everything you need and want so we can be the best, most accessible resource for all your needs.

We appreciate you, and we know the best place to get ideas and inspiration is from our customers. We want to grow with YOU as we continue to grow with the waste and recycling industry but we need your input!

Already thought of something? Great! Email American HERE and tell us your thoughts.

Need a little more time to put together your wish list for the new website? No problem! We will be checking emails consistently to make sure we hear all your great ideas! We can’t wait to hear them!

                       

                                                             Submit Suggestion

 

Thanks for your help and as always, thanks for reading!

 

 

 

 

Mixed Messaging

Assumptions & Misconceptions That Can Lead to Recycling Mistakes

It's easy to hear the word 'recyclable' or see a recycling symbol and immediately think that the item can be tossed into your single stream recycling bin at home or work...but, beware! All uses of the word 'recyclable' and all recycling symbols are not created equal!

The American Recycling Center often receives items that are not Single Stream recyclable (aka "contaminants") and we find it is often because of simple misunderstandings and a few common misconceptions.

 

 

1.Misuse of the word "Recycle"

Aka:  Assuming "recyclable" means  Single Stream Recyclable

Have you ever seen a message urging you to "recycle your old clothes"? The word 'recycle' in this sentence, is being used in a figurative way- to suggest the old clothes will have a new life. A viewer of this message is misguided into believing that clothing is conventionally recyclable. 

However, a more appropriate and accurate word choice for giving your clothing a new life would be to replace the word 'recycle' with 're-use' or the phrase, 'donate to a re-use network'.

Clothing cannot be 'recycled' in the same way plastic water bottles can. Textiles (such as clothing, blankets, linens etc.) get tangled on the sorting machinery and cause problems in recycling processing facilities. The next time you see the word 'recycle' in regards to clothing or textiles, know that it is likely not meant to imply literally recycling them, but rather donating them to a re-use network.

 2. Misinterpretation of the Recycling Symbol

Aka: Assuming all recycling symbols mean "Single Stream" or "Curbside Recyclable"

Sometimes an item bearing a recycling sign is able to be recycled, but only at a specific, specialized facility and NOT with your single stream or curbside recycling.

A GREAT example is plastic bags and films. Though we have mentioned this problem before, these continue to be the #1 contaminant for operators across the country causing extensive damage to facility equipment.

 

 

Not to mention, once these bags are mixed with all types of other recyclables, they no longer carry the same value towards becoming new goods.

 

 

 

 

 

The recycling symbol sometimes seen on bags (above) simply implies that these items have the ability to be processed and recycled, but that doesn't mean they can be processed and recycled at a Single Stream recycling facility.

Dropping your used bags and films at a specialty drop off location remains the best form of collection for this temperamental material. It assures that the bags/films will be properly processed at a specialty facility so they can be made into quality products.

 

 

3. Misconception that ALL Recycling Facilities are Created Equal

Aka: Assuming that ALL recycling processing facilities can accept the same materials

 

 

Different facilities can accept different recyclable materials-and not always all of them! The little number stamped on the bottom of a material means that it CAN be recycled but not in every recycling plant. 

 

For example, our facility, the American Recycling Center, can take all numbers (1-7) but another similar plant in a different state may only be able to accommodate 1-3.

 

Reasons for this vary, but if you have a question about what your recycling processor can accept, contact your hauler. As for American, see our list of Accepted Recycling Materials

 

The Takeaway

 

Misinterpretations and assumptions can lead to unintentionally incorrect recycling practices, and downright bad habits.

We hope that armed with this knowledge, you will be better equipped to spot differences and ask questions before blindly tossing materials into the recycling bin.

 

  As always, Thanks for Reading!

 

 

American Behind the (Green) Scenes, February 2015......Ok, this has offically become a tradition!

Here at American we like to share with you what we've been up to whenever we can-not just in the news or at your curb-but also behind the scenes, at our offices and out in the world!

This idea has led to our series of blogs entitled: American....Behind the (Green) Scenes. In these posts, we include a link to our internal monthly newsletter, The Daily Dumpster.

It's our way of sharing OUR family with yours. With so many exciting events and announcements covered in The Daily Dumpster (both professional and personal) we want to keep sharing it with you!

Click the link below to view the February issue of The Daily Dumpster. This edition covers all our holiday parties and employee appreciation holiday luncheons as well as a visit from Santa himself for all the youngest members of the American family, at our yearly Breakfast With Santa event.

We hope you enjoy!

The Daily Dumpster-February 2015

As always, from our family to yours, thanks for reading!

Green Resolutions: 2015

Three Small Changes that make a BIG Difference

Forget to make a resolution this year? It still isn't too late to make promises you can keep! 2015 has only just begun, so why not make a resolution to be more environmentally responsible?

Don't worry, it's MUCH easier than you think! We welcome you to consider these three sustainable resolutions that are as easy to keep as they are to make!

Resolution #1 

Recycle your most commonly used material...EVERY time.

Pinpoint the recyclable item you buy the most and resolve to recycle it EVERY time you dispose of it. This is much easier than you would think, as these common items don't require any preparation, just the decision to toss them into the recycling bin and not the trash!

Take these examples: If you drink soda every day, make it a point to recycle each and every (empty) can. Do the same if bottled water is your daily beverage of choice.

 

If you are an avid online shopper, resolve to toss all cardboard shipping boxes into the recycling bin. Just make sure to remove any non-recyclable packing materials first, like plastic bags or foam peanuts.

For those of you who swear by a yogurt for breakfast or need your PB&J sandwich every day, give those containers a light rinse, or quick swipe with a sponge and send them to the recycling bin! Remember, even thicker contents like yogurt and peanut butter only require a quick swipe or rinse; you don't need to extensively wash your recyclables to toss them into the bin!

 

Resolution #2 

Switch to Re-usable Bags.

 

We've all heard that "bagless is better", but this year instead of walking by those re-usable bags at the checkout aisle, break the plastic bag habit and try one out!

Forgoing plastic bags and opting for something re-usable not only saves energy, but it also protects recycling processing facilities, their employees and the recycling process!

Plastic bags get caught in the recycling processing machines, such as those used at the American Recycling Center. When the bags wind themselves around the sorting equipment, it can cause the equipment to jam resulting in a shut down of the facility or a safety hazard to the employees who work at the plant.



Plastic bags wound around all the rotors of sorting equiptment, a re-occurring, daily problem!

If these reasons aren't enough to inspire you to break up with bags, remember, re-usable bags are more convenient and easier to find than ever. There are now varied options, some that collapse into tiny pouches that can easily be kept in a purse or jacket pocket so you never have to worry about forgetting them at home. Let us not forget to mention, many stores provide customers who choose the re-usable bag option a monetary incentive when shopping at their stores.

 

 

 

 

Resolution #3

Make your voice heard and reduce waste by saying NO to foam

 

 

It is difficult to find anyone who can give a valid reason why we still use polystyrene in our manufacturing process. If you need disposable plates or cups, there are many environmental friendly, compostable options

these days.

 

If your office is still using polystyrene cups for coffee, try suggesting compostable cups instead, or that employees bring in their own reusable cups.

 

 

 

If your favorite take out restaurant is also still using this troublesome material, suggest that they follow the lead of companies like Whole Foods whose take out containers are made from an eco-friendly, compostable material and still do the trick for taking food home!

 

 

 

 

 

Want to Go for a 4th Resolution? 

Recruit your friends!

 

 

Resolve to convince your friends to make the same resolutions! The more people who make these small changes, the bigger the impact will be!