Curbside Courier:
Fall 2004
Closing the Loop
 Just
like clockwork. Ever since you were a child, Auntie always sends
you the best birthday presents. This year is no exception. As you
open the tissue paper in the box, you see a soft, fleece jacket.
The green tag hanging from the sleeve catches your eye. It says:
Made from recycled plastic bottles. You have "closed the loop,"
without even knowing it, and have reaped another benefit of recycling.
Benefits of Recycling
Using recycled materials to make new products saves natural resources
like oil, wood, and minerals. When you buy and use products made
from recycled materials, you help "close the loop." this
continues the remarkable chain of events you started when you put
your recyclables into your recycling cart.
You also save money by recycling as much as you
can. By placing your recyclables in the recycling cart, you can
save the space in your garbage cart for what is really garbage.
That means you'll be able to use a smaller garbage cart size, and
save money, too.
It's never been easier to make a difference in the environment,
your wallet - or your wardrobe! Recycle. and buy recycled to "close
the loop."
From Old to New
Here's a look at how some curbside recyclables are used after they
are sorted and sold as raw materials for making new products.
Glass can be recycled indefinitely and used to make new glass containers and fiberglass.
Plastics are made from different resins and the
distinct types (1-7) have special properties. Typical uses are polar
fleece, flowerpots, traffic cones, and recycling carts.
The quality of paper fiber determines its use for new products.
Recycled paper is used to make egg cartons, newspaper, tissues,
and telephone books.
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