Recycling has become a critical part of everyone’s lives. The process reduces stress on resources and minimizes the impact trash has on the planet. While you may have the basic concepts of recycling down, there are a few terms to know that will make you a professional at protecting the environment. Here are five to learn today.

Key Recycling Terms to Know

1. Bulk Waste

When recycling and trash are too big for cans and bins, they are considered bulk waste. This includes furniture and appliances, and it is usually picked up on special days and times based on your area’s waste pickup schedule. Some areas require that residents and businesses call to schedule a bulk pickup.

2. Contaminants

Contaminants are material that may affect an item being recycled successfully. Usually, this applies to cardboard stained with grease or food particles that will lower the quality of the product during recycling. This may also apply to plastic and glass containers that housed certain chemicals and cleaners.

3. Curbside Recycling

Recycling bins are left near the curb, and waste management trucks pick up the contents on specified days. Municipalities typically have pickup weekly or biweekly. Each area will also list requirements for easy pickup such as which bins are acceptable and how items should be sorted. Not every township has designated curbside pickup. In those areas, residents and businesses should call a recycling service to schedule theirs or drop off their waste at a recycling center.

4. Single Stream

When your area allows for single-stream recycling, glass, paper, metal, and plastic are placed in one receptacle instead of being sorted into multiple ones for pickup. Single-stream pickups are sorted later at recycling facilities. This makes it easier for homeowners and commercial customers to gather their items for their scheduled day.

5. Virgin Material

When items are made from raw sources, they are considered virgin material. To get this designation, these items cannot have been used in any other form except for the naturally occurring initial state they are found in such as a tree for paper products or the resin that is the base for plastic.
 

Serving Russellville, Pottsville, Atkins, Dover, London, and Dardanelle, RTI Trash is Arkansas’s top commercial trash service, roll-off service, and recycling center. Whether your business requires weekly or daily recycling services or trash compactor service, this family-owned and -operated company will help with prompt offerings at affordable rates. Call (479) 890-2662 for more information, and visit them online and on Facebook.