| GRN Recycle Talk FAQ Answer |
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 97 12:10 WET DST From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman) Subject: Re: How can we classify the recycling, reuse recovery (Ik-Rae Seon)
Sept. 11, 1997
Dear Ik-Rae Seon,
The term classify as to classify recycling vs. reuse
is unclear. Perhaps you mean, define so as to differentiate between them. If so, the following have been offered in the past:
Recycling means the series of activites including collection, separation, processing by which products are recovered from or otherwise diverted from the solid waste stream for use in the form of raw materials in the manufaqcture of new products other than fuel ffor producing heat or power by combustion. The basic differentiation in recycling is between preconsumer and postconsumer recycling. In preconsumer recycling, materials that have not usually been turned into final products, or that have been turned into final products but not used or spent or consumed, are put back into the raw materials stream for use. In postconsumer recycling, products that have already had their intended function are used as raw materials.
Reuse means using a substance or product in the same form more than one time.
Recovery is a much more vague term. Energy can be recovered as can products, as can ones reputation. Recovery means to gain or find or obtain something again.
As to latest technologies, these are too diverse to be able to summarize in this format. Cerrtainly sorting technologies for plastics are continaully being improved, as are crumbing technologies for rubber, materials separation for the contents of batteries, mercury reclamation technologies for fluorescent light bulbs, and so forth. The best way to review these will be to read the literature of waste management that pays particular attention to equipment in the nonhazardous waste field. Each substance has its newsletter (Scrap Tire News or pubblications of the TAPPI for paper). An all-inclusive suvey magazine such as Waste Age might be employed.
-- Research Library for RCRA