Recycling tends to bring to mind the image of re-purposed glass, plastic, paper and aluminum cans. The Recycling Center in Hartford, CT not only brings used materials back to life, they keep items out of landfills that would otherwise contaminate groundwater and generate greenhouse gases. While consumers sometimes question the need of their contribution, every effort made is crucial for companies working hard to reduce waste keeping it from dumpsites.
What are greenhouse gases? Greenhouse gases in simple terms are gases that absorb and emit radiation. The increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are contributing to, if not causing, global warming. Why? When the gases release, they absorb infrared radiation therefore holding heat in the atmosphere, earning the blame for changing the earth’s temperatures and climates.
Local Recycling Center in Hartford, CT area makes an honest attempt to collect and prevent all materials capable of being recycled from ever making it to dumps or landfills. The Hartford center firmly believes glass, metals, paper and plastics must remain above ground to end the threat to our environment. Different materials are recycled using varying processes. It is important to separate your items, cleaning cans and glass containers before adding them to the bin when you can. A simple swish with warm soapy water does the trick and is an easy habit to develop.
The recycling process begins once the materials arrive. The papers separated into types, washed with soapy water, stripping staples, plastic and ink. The clean papers move into a large container, mix with different materials, form a slurry to make cardboard, office paper or newspaper rolls, all very useful products. Glass is also taken from the bin, sorted by color, washed to remove impurities, crushed and melted then molded into a variety of new jars, bottles and often used in bricks. The aluminum cans and foils are taken from the household bins, to the treatment plant, sorted, cleaned and made ready for processing. It goes through a re-melting processes, removing inks and coatings. The final products rolled into large rolls of aluminum ready to go back into circulation. Plastics are recycled in a similar process as is glass, paper and aluminum creating unique and useful products. For more info, click here.
