Recycling is confusing, even for the most well-intentioned and informed conscious consumers. Capabilities of municipal recycling facilities vary from region to region, and items that are difficult-to-recycle sometimes get looped in with regularly accepted items.   Not all paper, metal, glass and plastic packaging is created equal, and many common items that seem to fall in the “recyclable” category are far from it. Knowing to “watch out” for these common household waste items will help you prevent contamination at your local municipal recycling facility (MRF) and ensure that the items you do recycle are kept at their highest value at all times:   1.         Black plastic Plastic is plastic, right? With regards to the types of plastic accepted curbside in general, we know this to be vastly untrue, but black plastic is a big recycling “watch out” that many people are unaware of. The optical scanners used to identify types of plastic at municipal recycling facilities using the reflection of light deem black plastic unrecyclable in the current infrastructure. Why? Black plastic does not reflect light. Thus, the rigid plastic of black microwave food trays, takeout containers and other items are not accepted by most MRFs, even if the resin number on the bottom is accepted in your bin.   2.         Gradient glass Glass is one of the most highly recyclable materials accepted by MRFs, but depending on where you live, some curbside programs require residents to sort colored glass from clear glass, or only accept clear and brown (both of which generally have high market demand). Once colored, glass cannot be turned into another color, so when it comes to gradient or multi-colored glass, the material is not recyclable because these colors cannot be separated.   When contaminants (i.e. different color glass or other materials) are mixed in with glass, it decreases the value of the recovered glass, increases costs and slows production. Gradient and multi-colored glass, then, is basically a contaminant to itself in the current recycling infrastructure. But on the up side, this discarded glass, if captured, is often milled and ground for use in concrete.   3.         Natural and synthetic packaging combos Multi-compositional packaging configurations (i.e. flexible plastic) are a recycling “don’t” due to the need for separation at the material level, but items comprised of entirely separate, recyclable waste streams become difficult if not isolated. For example, a coated paper coffee cup with a plastic top would not be recyclable if thrown away as a unit—the lid must be separated from the cup (which is generally not recyclable due to the plastic lining) and tossed in the recycling receptacle on its own.   Other examples of unrecyclable natural and synthetic combinations are paper blister packs with foil and single-serve beverage pods.   4.         Biodegradable and bioplastic Bioplastics can be broadly broken down into two categories: durable and biodegradable. For instance, the PlantBottle is a durable bioplastic alternative to traditional PET bottles made by Coca-Cola. Made with up to 30 percent ethanol sourced from plant material, the PlantBottle won’t decompose, but it can be recycled with traditional PET containers and bottles. It is important to note that this is an outstanding example, as not all bioplastics are recyclable.   Biodegradable bioplastics on the other hand, like increasingly popular PLA (polylactic acid), are exactly as they sound: in theory, they break down naturally in the environment or may be composted. However, in most cases, biodegradable bioplastics will only break down in a high-temperature industrial composting facility, not your average household compost bin. Plus, these are not recyclable.   5.         Post-consumer recycled content (PCR) The whole point of recycling is to capture the value of materials like discarded metal, paper and plastic for use in the production of new items. But the inclusion of post-consumer recycled content (PCR) in the production of these new items does not always equal recyclability. PCR plastic content is often multi-compositional and has little traceability, which means that once aggregated, it is difficult to know where exactly it came from and what types of plastic it is comprised of.   However, integrating PCR can result in a fully recyclable product. For example, Procter & Gamble teamed up with TerraCycle and SUEZ in Europe to create the world’s first fully recyclable shampoo bottle made from PCR beach plastic. Special sorting and processing logistics mean the right kinds of PCR content is used in the production of a bottle that can go in the blue bin.

El costo ambiental es un parámetro que permite medir en valor económico el daño medioambiental causado por actividades productivas por la sociedad.

En un estudio publicado en 2010 por la consultoría Trucost se afirma que el costo ambiental total producido por las empresas supera los 2.2 billones de dólares al año; los daños corresponderían a un 6 y 7% de su producción total. A su vez, se calculó que esos daños pueden sobrepasar en valor al de la mayor parte de las economías nacionales de algunos países del mundo. Se dice que entre más grande sea la empresa más daño le hará al medio ambiente. Sin embargo, con el paso del tiempo las empresas han comprendido el impacto de sus actividades en el medio ambiente y se han comprometido con la responsabilidad social. La Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (RSE) “es la capacidad de entender y dar respuesta al conjunto de solicitudes que los diversos grupos que constituyen el entorno hacen a la empresa” e implica el desarrollo de estrategias en 5 áreas.

1. Ética y gobierno corporativo. Ideales y creencias para la organización que incluyen el reconocimiento y respeto hacia los derechos humanos. En general, se trata del enfoque de los negocios basados en valores reflejado en la misión y visión de la empresa.
2. Calidad de vida y prácticas laborales. Políticas y prácticas internas que promueven el buen ambiente y condiciones de trabajo, diversidad y equidad de género, diálogo y respeto entre los trabajadores.
3. Participación activa en la comunidad. Acciones realizadas por la empresa para mejorar la calidad de vida de la comunidad y el desarrollo de la misma. Implica el apoyo a los pequeños emprendimientos para el crecimiento económico de la sociedad.
4. Medio ambiente. Conlleva el pensamiento consciente del empresario para evaluar el impacto medioambiental de sus acciones y propone estrategias que compense dicho impacto. Abarca iniciativas como el manejo de residuos, la reducción de emisiones tóxicas y peligrosas para la salud, la prevención de la contaminación y la concientización de todos los involucrados.
5. Cadena de valor. Grupo de decisiones relacionadas con la cadena de valor de la empresa (proveedores, trabajadores, contratistas, clientes, consumidores y otros) 

Algunos de los efectos positivos de una empresa socialmente responsable son la mejora de las relaciones con la comunidad, la contribución al desarrollo de la sociedad, mayor visibilidad de la empresa, aumento en el recibimiento de apoyos financieros y apoyo al bien común. Hay muchas empresas que afianzan su compromiso social a través de la recolección y reciclaje de residuos. TerraCycle promueve la realización de estas actividades mediante sus programas de reciclaje de empaques de botanas y de cuidado bucal Colgate®, de envolturas de galletas y jabones Palmolive®, y de bolsas de pan y pan dulce. Una de las empresas globales que ha demostrado hacer sus productos con valor ecológico agregado es P&G. Su objetivo de sostenibilidad consiste en ofrecer marcas y productos que ayuden a la conservación de los recursos naturales y la protección al ambiente, a su vez que cumplan las necesidades de la sociedad de la mejor manera posible.

La sostenibilidad ambiental y social son parte del trabajo de todos en P&G. Están integradas en nuestra labor diaria y en nuestras operaciones de negocio, David Taylor, Presidente y CEO de P&G.

Entre sus visiones a largo plazo se encuentra la de enviar cero residuos de producción y consumo a vertederos. Y en América Latina el avance ha sido significativo ya que más del 60% de su producción ha sido realizada en plantas con nulo residuos a vertederos. Una manera de seguir cumpliendo con esta visión se centra en el proyecto en alianza con TerraCycle y SUEZ. P&G recurrió a estas empresas para comprender cómo rescatar el máximo valor posible de los residuos obtenidos de los productos ya consumidos. El proyecto nació de un informe de la Fundación Ellen MacArthur en el Foro Económico Mundial, en donde se dijo que los envases de plástico tienen un valor de 80 a 120 billones anuales y representa una pérdida para la economía ya que esos envases sólo se utilizan una vez. El objetivo del proyecto consiste en desarrollar la primera botella de champú completamente reciclable de la marca Head & Shoulders, hecha en un 25% de plásticos duros recolectados de la playa. Esto destaca el impulso de una mayor reutilización de los plásticos e incentiva la conversión de residuos en productos. Las primeras 150,000 botellas con este valor ecológico estarán disponibles este verano en Francia, por lo que esta campaña de producción de botellas de champú hecha con plástico de playa se consolida como la más grande, a su vez supone un paso importante en el establecimiento de una cadena de suministro única que es compatible con una nueva economía de plásticos. Actualmente, TerraCycle está trabajando con cientos de organizaciones de la sociedad civil y grupos comunitarios enfocados en la limpieza de playas para la captura de los plásticos rígidos. Junto con SUEZ realizan la logística de la recogida y envío, y el procesamiento de separación de los materiales para que puedan ser utilizados como materia prima reciclada. Esta alianza sirve como punto de referencia en cómo las organizaciones pueden colaborar unidas con el propósito de ofrecer grandes cambios ambientales en todas las industrias. Con todo esto se incorpora la idea del post-consumo del material reciclado y se crea un nuevo nicho de mercado para los plásticos reciclados, así como el diseño de una cadena de suministro que genera la alimentación propia de la empresa. Otro de los beneficios de este proyecto es la garantía de la supervivencia de los ecosistemas marinos, ya que aproximadamente de 10 a 20 millones de toneladas de plásticos terminan en los océanos, lo que significa una grave degradación de la naturaleza y hábitat de los animales, y además representa una gran pérdida financiera para la pesca y el turismo. ¡Si las cosas no cambian, en 2050 se observarán más plásticos que peces en el océano! Es importante replicar este tipo de proyectos para expandir el crecimiento sostenible y el impacto positivo  

  此次活动是由泰瑞环保与上海市大学生环保社团联盟共同合作，联合十所高校发起的一个免费回收任何口腔护理产品包装的活动。活动旨在共同支持并参与由高露洁棕榄(中国)有限公司赞助的口腔护理用品废弃物（含包装）回收循环利用活动，并在此过程中向参与的师生宣传并提高其垃圾分类、循环利用等环保意识，以带动全社会的生态环保进步。 公司承诺，回收回来后，1%-5%的废品会制作成产品重新使用（upcycle），比如牙膏皮做成的购物袋；其余会清洗造粒，再用粒子制作成其他的产品（recycle）。保证100%无填埋和焚烧。

In a move that could increase consumer awareness about marine plastic pollution — and thus, consumer willingness to pay more for products made from recycled marine plastic — recycling company TerraCycle plans to expand its beach cleanup programs to collect up to 1,000 tons of plastic waste globally. Earlier this year TerraCycle, in partnership with Procter & Gamble and Suez, developed the world’s first recyclable shampoo bottle made from up to 25 percent recycled beach plastic. The Head & Shoulders shampoo bottle will debut in France this summer. TerraCycle told Plastics News that the partners have major expansion plans. The initial beach cleanups collected 15 tons of material in Europe; Brett Stevens, vice president of material sales and procurement at the recycling company, told the publication that the company plans to expand collection efforts to North America and Asia. “The collection goals we’ve set forth in total approach I would say probably 500 to 1,000 tons coming off beaches over the next 12 months,” Stevens said. “It is very much not a fad. I think that we’re investing the staff and resources and building our programs with our partners, making this a long-lasting impact.” TerraCycle’s statements come as other leading companies are turning their attention to plastic waste ending up in oceans and other waterways. Last month Dell said it has developed the technology industry’s first packaging trays made with 25 percent recycled ocean plastic content. In January, Unilever CEO Paul Polman called on the consumer goods industry to address ocean plastic waste and employ circular economy models to increase plastic recycling rates. Adidas is also working to solve the problem of plastic pollution in oceans by turning this waste stream into new material for its shoes. But as environmental groups like Greenpeace and circular economy advocates like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation have shown in recent reports, more needs to be done. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, one-third of the plastic packaging used globally ends up in oceans and other fragile ecosystems. An earlier study by the foundation found there could be more plastics than fish in the ocean by 2050. However, as Waste Dive reports, the cost associated with collecting and cleaning marine plastic for reuse in products and packaging means virgin material is cheaper. “A coordinated global campaign that can demonstrate the path from cleaning beaches to putting new products on store shelves might help drive consumer interest in paying a little more for packaging made from this content.”

  根据Szaky的说法，将海洋塑胶垃圾再制成塑胶瓶是个相当繁复的过程－－先是由数百名非营利组织的志工从海滩、港口或其他水源收集塑胶垃圾，TerraCycle再将收集而来的塑胶垃圾分类，将高密度聚乙烯（HDPE）交给P&G制作成塑胶瓶，剩余的塑胶垃圾则交给非营利组织制作长椅或野餐桌。  

每一年，数以亿计的包装废品都会被填埋或焚烧。泰瑞环保努力让这种浪费的、不可持续的行为得到改变。

「了解海洋中的塑膠帶來多大的災害是很重要的，因為塑膠會困住動物或被動物吃下肚，我認為人們不知道這是多大的危機。」與P&G合作製造洗髮精瓶的回收公司TerraCycle，其創辦人Tom Szaky如此告訴赫芬頓郵報。

Today I sent out email to a few schools (Bullcreek PS, Oberthur PS, Bateman PS, Caralee CS, FLDC, Melville PS, Bicton PS, Attadale PS, Ardross PS, Applecross SHS, Mount Pleasant PS, Brentwood PS, Leeming SHS, West Leeming PS, Leeming PS, Banksia Park PS, Kardinya PS, Palmyra PS, Booragoon PS, Melville SHS, Winthrop PS, Yidarra CPS, Kennedy BC, All Saints C, Corpus Christi C, Mel Maria CPS, Our Lady of Fatima, Santa Maria, St Benedicts and St Georges Anglican Grammar!) Basically, I think schools are a great place to start when it comes to reaching a group of people and … educating them. The gist of the email is as follows… I am challenging the schools of the City of Melville to participate in a free program to promote recycling waste streams that would normally end up in landfill. The City of Melville has an A-Z list of items http://recycleright.wa.gov.au/your-a-z-of-recycling/ that go in their ‘Green top bins’ (aka Organic Compost and Landfill) and ‘yellow top bins’ recycling. RecycleRight have a free app for smartphones http://recycleright.wa.gov.au/download-our-app/ Some of the items that are not recycled through City of Melville is the humble toothbrush and tube of Toothpaste. TerraCycle take on the waste streams that our curb side collectors can’t. They will even pay postage and give you points for each piece over 1kg (up to 22kg/package). All you have to do is bring in your brush (and other dental hygiene products.) Run it through the Student Council, giving the student body ownership and an ingrained school ethic to care for the environment! Advertise it on your school website, in class rooms and the school newsletter. Or perhaps via the P&C/P&F. Put your school and Melville area on the Map for public drop locations. I believe there are 30 odd schools in the City of Melville, which one will be the best at recycling an everyday product that everyone uses? Not only will you be helping keeping toothbrushes out of landfill, you will be stopping them from contaminating glass in the City of Melville yellow bins (yep, glass.) Please read the TerraCycle link and challenge your students to be part of keeping plastic out of landfill. Postage is pre-paid by TerraCycle, the program is free and you get points that make prizes for your school. Other business Oral Care Brigade: http://www.terracycle.com.au/en-AU/brigades/oral-care-brigade Oral Care Recycling Program · TerraCycle http://www.terracycle.com.au TerraCycle and Colgate® have partnered to create a free recycling program for oral care product packaging as well as a fundraising opportunity for participants. Oral Care Brigade specially for schools: http://www.terracycle.com.au/en-AU/brigades/bsbf-schools Bright Smiles, Bright Futures™ Oral Care Recycling Program http://www.terracycle.com.au Welcome to all primary schools receiving Colgate® Bright Smiles, Bright Futures™ oral health education kits. Join this recycling program for free and help divert … RecycleRight do have tours if your school was interested in investigating the impact of of recycling and rubbish and how our systems work in the Melville Shire. http://recycleright.wa.gov.au/contact/take-a-tour/ Recycle Right – Take a Free Tour of the RRRC Recycling … recycleright.wa.gov.au Take a free tour – RecycleRight, designed to educate visitors about the recycling process. Visit m.recycleright.wa.gov.au for ideas on living more sustainably. Take it a step further and do the beauty packaging http://www.terracycle.com.au/en-AU/brigades/beauty-products-recycling-program. They have several different waste streams and quite a few are free! http://www.terracycle.com.au/en-AU/collection-programs Some of their programs do involve a cost, I’d be thrilled if you took them up but I’d be happy with just getting toothbrushes out of landfill. Should your school wish to purchase some of the TerraCycle bins that are not on their free list, fundraise with a mufti-day for a gold coin donation. Have the students and teachers wear all natural fibres (or TRY to.) Natural fibres include cotton, wool, silk & hemp. Beauty Products Recycling Program http://www.terracycle.com.au L’Oréal Australia® and its brand Garnier® have teamed up with TerraCycle® to provide a second life for used personal care and beauty packaging through the free … I am a resident in the City of Melville, I have no affiliation with the companies mentioned. I’m just a mum, with young children in a local school who wants to make a difference in more then just my catchment area. My personal motivation is to have less waste, my inspiration has come from reading about Australian, Erin Rhoads www.therogueginger.com and Beth Terry https://myplasticfreelife.com. Beth Terry has a great book called Plastic Free, which would be an amazing addition to your school library. Although it has an American focus, it is a very good starting point for anyone wishing to minimise their plastic footprint. She also refers to many Australian programs. Other books for your school may be Joel Harper, All the way to the Ocean and Patricia Newma’s, Plastic Ahoy! Please inspire change and awareness, thank you for reading. Please note this program isn’t to undermine the work that the City of Melville & RecycleRight do, it is intended to complement it. Please download their app and/or take their free tour! Electric toothbrushes, electric toothbrush replacement heads & floss string are landfill. Bamboo toothbrushes are to go into home compost. Who knows, maybe they will take up the challenge. I hope so!