Sustainability Terms

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY Renewable energy sources, such as wind, flowing water, solar energy and biomass, which create less environmental damage and pollution than fossil fuels, and offer an alternative to nonrenewable resources. A natural degradable breakdown of an object under natural conditions. Organic material capable of being converted into basic compounds of elements by bacteria. Able to break down or decompose rapidly under natural conditions and Plastics made from corn, potato or other renewable source which is compostable and biodegradable. CAPTURE RATE The percentage of generated secondary materials actually recovered from a household or business. CARBON FOOTPRINT The amount (in tons) of carbon dioxide emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels as part of everyday operations. CARBON NEUTRAL Process in which the net contribution of atmospheric carbon from fossil fuel use is zero. CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCs) Family of inert, nontoxic and easily liquefied chemicals manufactured for use as coolants, cleaning solvents, plastic, aerosol propellants and foam insulation. CLOSED LOOP Production system in which the waste or byproduct of one process or product is used in making another product. For example, recycling waste newspaper to make paper-board or other types of paper. The collection of bagged recyclables together with other municipal garbage, separated later for recycling or disposal. Mixed recyclables that are collected or processed together. A mixture of garbage, degradable trash and soil in which bacteria in the soil breaks down the mixture into a soil conditioner (not a fertilizer). It has high organic content but low nitrogen. The component materials used in the fabrication of corrugated cardboard. CORRUGATED CARDBOARD, OLD (OCC) Unbleached, unwaxed kraft paper with ruffled inner liner. A recyclable material used to manufacture cardboard boxes. Computer scrap. A system that handles solid waste from creation through Corporate Social Responsibility. CUBE UTILIZATION The use of space within a storage area, trailer or container; generally calculated as a ratio or percentage of total space. Ability of materials to break down, by bacterial (biodegradable) or ultraviolet (photodegradable) action. DIVERSION CREDITS A financial incentive provided to municipalities or private recycling operations based on the tonnage diverted from the waste stream. ENERGY FROM WASTE A recognized alternative process to reduction or recovery of recyclable materials which are not currently economical. Materials used to generate heat in chemical or other FERROUS METALS (FE) Magnetic metals which are predominantly composed of iron. Fluorescent light bulbs. FOSSIL FUELS Solid, liquid or gaseous fuels formed in the ground over millions of years by chemical and physical changes in plant and animal resides under high temperature and pressure. FRONT END SEPARATION A system in which certain materials removed from the waste stream are directed toward a specific recovery system such as recycling or waste to energy incineration. GAYLORD CONTAINER The trade name for a large, reusable corrugated container used for shipping materials. Rating of waste or recyclable materials into homogenous categories by type and quality. GLOBAL WARMING Increase in the surface temperature of the Earth as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. GREENHOUSE EFFECT Warming of the Earth’s atmosphere due to a build-up of carbon dioxide or other gasses. GREENHOUSE GAS Gases that occur naturally and as a result of human activity. Natural gasses include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Gases generated by human activity include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous A size reduction technique that usually utilizes a series of HEAVY METALS Elements, including cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic which may be found in the waste stream as part of discarded items (batteries, lighting fixtures, colorants, ink). HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE) Used to make plastic bottles, milk cartons and other products. It produces toxic fumes when burned. SPI Resin Symbol 2. HIGH GRADE PAPER (HG) Relatively valuable types of paper such as computer printout, white ledger and tab cards. The substance which results from decay of plant or animal matter. Biodegradable matters form humus as they Hazardous waste. INDUSTRIAL SOURCE REDUCTION Application of technology modification, raw material substitution, and process improvement, to reduce the amount and number of contaminants, hazardous substances, and pollutants released into the environment. INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommendation that promotes solid waste management through an integrated system that uses resource reduction, recycling, waste to energy incineration and land filling to manage the reclamation, reuse or disposal of plastics in the waste INTERMEDIATE PROCESSING CENTER (IPC) Facility that separates, cleans and bails or packages materials for sale to manufacturers or brokers. ISO 14000 A family of international standards for environmental Kraft paper. A private or municipal site where non-hazardous solid or municipal waste is buried. LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE) SPI Resin Symbol 4. LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS (LCA) A process to compile and evaluate environmental impacts associated with a product, process or activity through identifying and quantifying energy and material used and waste released to the environment. Analysis includes inputs and outputs of the entire life cycle of the product, process, or activity including raw material extracting and processing, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, use, and A paperboard used as the facing material in the production of corrugated shipping containers. Linear low density polyethylene. LOW GRADE PAPER (LG) Less valuable types of paper such as mixed office paper, corrugated cardboard and newspaper. MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY (MRF) A recycling facility that sorts and processes collected mixed recyclables into individual streams for market. Also known as an intermediate processing center (IPC). Medium density polyethylene. MILL BROKE Waste paper produced by mills during the paper making process that has traditionally been reused in manufacturing paper. It cannot be considered in the recycled content according to U.S. EPA guidelines. MINIMUM RECYCLED CONTENT LAWS Laws requiring a product or type of packaging to contain a certain percentage of recycled material. The natural and gradual decomposition of dead organic matter that has been evenly distributed in a thin layer on the MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW) Residential and commercial trash and/or garbage generated by a particular municipal area. NEW SCRAP Material which is discarded during a manufacturing or processing operation and which cannot be directly fed back to that operation. NON FERROUS SCRAP METALS (NF) Metals which contain no iron, such as aluminum, copper, brass and bronze. OFFICE PAPER Waste paper generated by offices, including stationery, photocopy and computer paper. Old newspapers. OZONE DEPLETION Destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer of the earth's atmosphere due to the release of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, into the environment. A process where ultraviolet radiation degrades the chemical bond or link in the polymer or chemical structure of a plastic. POLYETHYLENE TERAPHTHALATE (PET) A type of plastic that is clear or colored transparent with high gloss. It is used for carbonated beverage bottles and some household cleanser containers. SPI Resin Symbol 1. POLYPROPILENE (PP) Plastic with a smooth surface that cracks easily when bent and is difficult to scratch. Typical uses are: battery cases, dairy tubs, jar lids, straws and syrup bottles. It is hard to collect in marketable quantities for recycling and has limited uses in its recycled form. SPI Resin Symbol 5. POLYSTYRENE (PS) Plastic with a smooth surface that cracks easily when bent. Used for fast food packaging, cups and packing peanuts, it takes up a large part of landfill space because of its bulk. SPI Resin Symbol 6. POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) Environmentally indestructible plastic that releases toxic hydrochloric acid when burned. It is used for food wraps and containers for personal care products. SPI Resin Symbol 3. POST-CONSUMER WASTE Discarded material from a residence or business after it has completed its useful life; i.e. any household or commercial product which has served its original, intended use. PRE-CONSUMER WASTE Discarded raw materials from manufacturing or industrial process produced by converting operations and include any scraps, trimmings, overruns, etc. POST INDUSTRIAL MATERIAL Industrial manufacturing scrap. A company that processes post-consumer materials into new products. RECOVERED MATERIAL Waste material and byproducts recovered or diverted from solid waste, does not include materials and byproducts generated from and commonly used within an original manufacturing process. It includes both post-consumer and pre-consumer waste. Process, by which materials that would otherwise become solid waste are collected, separated or processed and returned to the economic mainstream to be reused in the form of raw materials or finished goods. REFUSE DERIVED FUEL (RDF) Fuel produced by separating, shredding and processing mixed wastes. Ground up recyclable plastics. The process of disassembly and reassembly of products during which time parts are cleaned, repaired or replaced. Operation of reforming reclaimed materials into new RESIN IDENTIFICATION CODES The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) introduced its resin identification coding system in 1988. SPI coding system offered a means of identifying the resin content of bottles and containers commonly found in the residential waste stream. RESOURCE RECOVERY Any process of obtaining matter or energy from materials formerly discarded. SOURCE REDUCTION A reduction in the overall material used in the manufacture of a product. Preserving people, prosperity and the planet through social, environmental and economically responsible decision THERMOPLASTICS (TPO) Plastics which can be reformed repeatedly by application of heat and pressure. Plastics which once molded cannot be reformed using heat or pressure. TIPPING FEE Charge for the unloading or dumping of waste at a recycling facility, composting facility, landfill, transfer station or waste to energy facility. VOLUME REDUCTION Processing waste materials to decrease the amount of space the materials occupy. It is accomplished by mechanical, thermal or biological means. Unwanted materials remaining from manufacturing processes, or refuse from humans and animals. WASTE EXCHANGE The use by one company of an industrial waste generated by another firm. WASTE RECYCLING A method of recovering waste as resources. It includes the reuse of wastes or the collection and treatment of a waste product for use as a replacement of all or part of the raw material in the manufacturing process. WASTE REDUCTION The prevention of waste at its source. WASTE STREAM The flow of waste material from generation to disposal. WASTE TO ENERGY INCINERATION An alternative process to reduction or recovery of recyclable materials which are not currently economical.