Smart
Recycling
By
Rex
A.
Crouch
Copyrighted
©
by
Rex
A.
Crouch
2009
1
Preface
Our
stuff,
the
things
we
want,
need,
and
use
on
a
daily
basis.
Where
does
it
all
come
from?
Part
of
smart
recycling
is
understanding
the
resources
we
use,
how
we
get
them,
and
how
we
process
them.
Everything
we
use
is
either
grown,
or
mined.
These
are
our
resources—grown
or
extracted.
Some
of
these
resources
are
renewable,
and
some
are
not.
Some
are
recyclable,
and
others
can’t
be
used
again.
Developing
a
scientific
foundation
for
the
nonscientists
Smart
recycling
begins
by
knowing
where
our
resources
come
from,
how
much
energy
we
expend
on
extracting
those
resources,
how
much
energy
is
spent
on
the
refinement
of
the
resource
to
make
it
usable,
and
finally,
when
the
product
is
expended,
the
most
efficient
way
to
recycle
the
resource.
With
this
knowledge
base,
the
concept
of
resource
lifecycle
is
introduced.
A
cycle
in
which
the
resource
is
recovered,
developed,
used,
and
recovered
again.
2
Metal
is
an
essential
part
of
automobiles,
trains,
planes,
appliances,
electronics,
nails,
satellites,
medical
equipment,
buildings,
wind
machines,
power
generation,
communications,
coat
hangers,
Internet,
plumbing,
and
household
wiring
just
for
starters.
There
are
a
variety
of
different
types
of
metal,
and
through
metallurgical
practices,
we
have
developed
even
more
metals
for
specialized
purposes.
Let’s
start
with
iron.
When
our
oceans
were
first
formed
about
4
billion
years
ago,
the
waters
were
inundated
with
iron.
If
we
could
have
seen
this
early
earth,
the
oceans
probably
appeared
as
a
rust
color,
and
we
didn’t
have
an
oxygenated
atmosphere,
but
rather
very
high
carbon
dioxide
(CO2)
contents.
CO2
is
one
carbon
atom
bonded
with
two
oxygen
atoms.
The
earliest
life
thrived
in
this
hostile
environment.
An
organism
called
a
Stromatolite,
a
photosynthetic
cyanobacteria,
developed
in
the
Precambrian,
and
developed
a
means
of
liberating
the
oxygen
from
the
carbon
in
the
CO2
molecule.
This
was
a
disaster,
for
some,
as
the
oxygen
was
poisonous
to
them.
But
the
development
of
oxygen
resulted
in
the
Cambrian
explosion
of
life
on
Earth.
When
the
oxygen
was
liberated,
it
initially
bonded
with
iron
atoms
that
inundated
the
waters.
The
periodic
symbol
for
iron
atom
is
(Fe).
At
this
point
we
have
identified
one
element
as
being
an
atom.
When
two
or
more
elements
bond,
they
are
referred
to
as
molecules.
As
the
oxygen
bonded
with
the
iron,
it
developed
into
two
primary
types
of
molecules
being
Magnetite
(FE3O4),
and
Hematite
(Fe2O3).
Magnetite
3
is
magnetic,
and
hematite
is
not.
After
bonding,
the
magnetite
and
hematite
molecules
precipitated
to
the
ocean
floors
along
with
silica
(Si),
and
formed
banded
iron
formations.
They
are
called
banded
because
the
alternating
layers
of
iron,
and
silica
create
brilliant
bands
in
the
rocks.
Those
formations
are
what
we
mine
today
for
our
raw
iron
ore.
The
overburden
is
removed
to
expose
the
ore
body,
and
mining
equipment
is
used
to
extract
the
iron
ore.
Once
extracted
it
must
be
processed
into
raw
iron.
To
do
this
heat
is
applied.
In
earlier
refinement
techniques,
this
was
done
with
coal,
or
natural
gas.
Today,
many
refineries
use
electricity
to
heat
their
refractory
furnaces.
To
refine
the
ore,
the
oxygen
must
be
removed.
Ironically,
carbon
which
was
removed
during
the
Precambrian,
and
Cambrian
is
the
most
readily
available
element
for
bonding
to
the
oxygen
atoms.
This
takes
place
by
adding
coke
(a
dry
carbon),
or
charcoal
to
the
furnace.
Once
the
oxygen
atoms
have
bonded
with
the
carbon
atoms,
the
iron
is
called
“wrought
iron.”
Wrought
iron
still
has
silica
in
the
mix.
To
further
refine
the
iron,
the
temperature
of
the
furnace
must
be
increased,
and
limestone
is
added.
Limestone
is
also
a
mined
product,
normally
extracted
from
large
quarries.
Limestone
(CaCO3)
bonds
with
the
silica
in
the
molten
iron,
and
floats
to
the
top
where
it
is
call
slag.
At
this
point
the
iron
is
call
“pig
iron.”
Limestone
is
also
a
key
ingredient
to
cement.
From
here,
the
iron
can
be
used
for
a
variety
of
applications.
Iron
is
used
to
make
steel,
and
stainless
steel
that
we
find
in
our
everyday
cookware,
appliances,
furniture
items,
automobiles,
surgical
equipment,
and
jewelry.
The
process
for
making
steel
requires
that
about
0.5%
to
1.5%
carbon
is
added
to
the
molten
iron.
This
must
be
done
while
keeping
the
4
oxygen,
and
silica
from
being
reintroduced.
The
amount
of
carbon
added
is
based
on
the
needs
of
the
client.
The
higher
the
carbon
content,
the
harder
the
steel
will
be.
There
is
a
threshold
in
which
it
may
become
brittle.
The
steel
is
still
in
a
molten
state.
To
create
stainless
steel
chromium
(Cr)
is
added.
Chromium
is
also
mined,
and
is
not
extracted
in
pure
form.
Chromium
ore
is
called
chromite
(FeCr2O4),
as
you
can
see
from
the
extra
iron,
and
oxygen
atoms
in
the
chemical
formula,
some
process
will
be
required
to
create
pure
chromium.
Just
like
steel,
there
are
many
grades
of
stainless
steel.
There
are
a
wide
variety
of
steels,
and
steel
alloys
for
special
purposes
in
science,
industry,
and
military
applications.
COPPER
Copper
is
a
metal,
and
an
element
on
the
periodic
table
(Cu).
Copper
is
found
in
all
circuit
boards,
almost
all
electronic
devices,
household
wiring,
water
supply
plumbing,
power
lines,
generators,
and
electric
motors.
Some
radioactive
isotopes
of
copper
are
used
to
treat
cancer,
and
diagnosis
diseases.
Life
would
be
pretty
boring
without
copper.
Copper
is
mined
from
native
copper,
porphyry,
or
massive
sulfide
deposits.
Native
copper
means
that
the
copper
is
found
in
masses.
Porphyry
copper
deposits
is
a
deposit
where
the
small
fractures
were
filled
by
copper.
In
both
cases,
the
copper
atoms
were
carried
into
these
cavities
from
within
the
earth
by
extremely
hot
water,
a
process
called
hydrothermal
deposits.
A
massive
sulfide
deposit
will
contain
copper
ore
such
as
the
mineral
chalcopyrite
(CuFeS2),
which
accounts
for
almost
half
of
the
copper
production
in
the
world.
In
this
case,
the
copper
atom
must
be
leached
out
of
the
chalcopyrite
using
sulfuric
acid.
Even
the
sulfuric
acid
must
be
mined
and
processed.
The
sulfuric
acid
comes
from
sulfide
minerals,
and
is
naturally
occurring.
Other
metals
found
in
massive
sulfide
deposits
include,
but
are
not
5
limited
to
nickel,
zinc,
pyrite,
pyrrhotite,
marcasite,
galena,
arsenopyrite,
silver,
and
gold.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum
comes
from
bauxite
ore
which
is
a
mined
in
a
variety
of
ways,
surface
and
subsurface.
The
production
of
Aluminum
from
bauxite
ore
is
a
three
step
process.
First
the
alumina
is
extracted
from
bauxite
ore.
The
bauxite
is
crushed,
and
then
mixed
with
sodium
hydroxide.
Afterwards,
it
is
placed
in
a
high
temperature
digester
and
sealed.
High
pressures
develop
in
the
sealed
digester
which
forces
a
reaction,
and
results
in
aluminum
oxide,
and
gangues.
Gangues
are
unwanted
rocks,
metals,
and
minerals.
The
gangues
typically
form
in
the
bottom
of
the
digester
unit.
The
aluminum
oxide
is
the
component
found
after
the
digesting
phase.
The
aluminum
oxide
still
isn’t
pure
aluminum.
The
aluminum
oxide
is
evaporated
off,
and
then
allowed
to
precipitate
into
a
tank
where
it
crystallizes.
The
crystals,
which
look
like
large
chunks
of
alum,
are
washed,
and
then
dried.
The
aluminum
is
then
heated
to
melting
point,
and
poured
into
ingots,
or
other
forms
for
use
by
fabricators.
If
there
have
been
orders
for
special
purpose
aluminums,
other
materials
may
be
added
to
the
aluminum
while
it
is
still
in
the
molten
state.
Chlorine
may
also
be
bubbled
through
the
molten
aluminum
to
further
remove
impurities.
There
are
many
other
metals
we
could
address
that
have
special
applications
in
science,
medicine,
and
industry,
they
are
all
mined,
and
they
all
require
hazardous
processes
to
make
them
suitable
for
our
needs.
When
we
use
these
materials,
we
need
to
think
about
what
it
took
to
bring
that
resource
to
us,
and
what
it
the
best,
and
cleanest
way
we
can
reuse.
The
answers
may
be
surprising.
6
With
our
visions
of
clean
energy,
and
wind
farms,
we
see
wheat
fields
sharing
the
winds
with
energy
producing
machines.
I
chose
to
discuss
the
steel,
copper,
and
aluminum
for
this
very
reason.
Wind
Machines
all
have
a
steel
support
structures,
aluminum
housings,
and
the
generators
inside
are
made
of
steel,
magnets,
and
copper
wire
windings.
Degradation
of
the
concrete
foundation,
stress
fractures
in
the
steel,
warping
of
the
aluminum,
and
breaks
in
the
copper
wires
will
one
day
render
that
wind
machine
ineffective.
These
machines
do
eventually
breakdown.
This
brings
me
to
the
concept
of
resource
lifecycles.
Mining
is
necessary,
but
the
resources
our
mines
produce
are
limited.
When
we
produce
products
it
should
be
from
the
stand
point
of
how
will
that
product
be
recycled.
Nearly
all
metals
can
be
easily
recycled,
and
it
is
financially
worth
your
time
to
recycle
metal
products.
Smart
consumers
look
to
see
if
products
are
healthy,
how
many
trans
fats,
and
saturated
fats
will
be
consumed.
Is
the
product
organic
ensuring
the
consumer
they
are
not
ingesting
hormones,
and
other
chemicals.
Smart
consumers
need
to
be
smart
about
all
of
their
products.
Where
does
the
packaging
come
from?
Can
it
be
recycled?
If
it
can
be
recycled,
how
much
energy
goes
into
recycling
it?
From
the
shelf,
to
the
consumer,
recycled,
and
back
on
the
shelf.
This
becomes
the
resource
lifecycle.
Where
we
can
all
make
a
difference
Consumers
should
avoid
buying
products
that
are
difficult
to
impossible
to
recycle.
7
Manufactures
should
design
their
products
to
be
recycled,
and
market
them
as
such.
SUMMARY
OF
METALS
Metals
are
energy
intensive
to
mine,
but
essential
to
our
everyday
lives.
While
mining
has
become
a
clean
science,
it
still
has
an
environmental
impact,
we
can
minimize
the
amount
of
mining
by
recycling,
and
understanding
that
metals
are
one
of
the
most
easily
recycled
resources
we
have.
8
The
battery
is
one
of
the
most
dangerous
subjects,
and
probably
least
thought
about.
If
disposed
in
a
landfill,
batteries
can
leach
into
water
tables,
streams,
lakes,
and
their
cleanup
is
problematic,
expensive,
and
possibly
outside
of
the
human
scope.
If
destroyed
in
a
public
incinerator,
the
vapors
enter
the
atmosphere.
Many
types
of
batteries
contain
mercury
(Hg).
Mercury
is
vaporized
at
very
low
temperatures.
The
vapor
from
mercury
is
toxic
in
that
it
quickly
passes
through
the
lungs,
damaging
the
brain,
heart,
liver,
kidneys,
and
the
pulmonary
system.
This
is
just
but
one
type
of
battery.
There
are
many
special
batteries
out
there.
Possibly
the
three
worst
types
to
end
up
in
landfills
are
Mercury,
Lead,
and
Cadmium.
We
use
batteries
in
our
watches,
smoke
detectors,
cell
phones,
hearing
aids,
automobiles,
computers,
calculators,
and
even
houses
off
the
grid
using
solar,
and
wind
power
rely
battery
arrays
to
store
the
power
they
harvest
for
later
use.
Understanding
our
batteries,
and
how
to
recycle
them
is
imperative
to
the
product
life
cycle
process,
and
increasing
the
quality
of
Earth’s
health.
Batteries
have
two
contacts.
The
negative
contact
is
called
the
anode.
The
positive
contact
is
the
cathode.
Inside
a
battery
there
are
plates
of
two
different
materials,
one
of
the
plates
has
I
higher
negative
charge
than
the
other.
The
electrons
want
to
pass
through
the
circuit
to
get
to
the
positive
side
of
the
battery,
and
balance
the
number
of
9
electrons
on
both
sides.
The
substance
that
allows
electrons
to
move
within
the
battery
is
called
the
electrolyte.
When
the
battery
has
balanced
the
charge
on
each
side,
it
is
effectively
dead.
A
simple
battery
can
be
made
by
wetting
a
piece
of
paper
with
lemon
juice,
and
pressing
a
penny
to
one
side
of
the
paper,
and
a
nickel
to
the
other
side.
However,
batteries
for
sustained
voltages,
and
currents
are
more
complicated.
ALKALINE
BATTERIES
Alkaline
batteries
are
the
most
frequently
purchased,
and
used
batteries.
They
are
the
common
9
volt,
AA,
AAA,
C,
and
D
cell
batteries
you
encounter.
Alkaline
batteries
have
been
reengineered
in
the
recent
past
to
make
them
safer
for
disposal
in
landfills.
This
is
to
say
there
is
no
mechanism,
as
we
know
of
today,
to
recycle
alkaline
batteries.
Alkaline
batteries
are
alkaline
electrolyte
of
potassium
hydroxide
(KOH)
base.
The
alkaline
of
potassium
hydroxide
has
a
high
pH,
it
is
the
opposite
of
acids.
This
may
seem
perfectly
harmless
to
toss
into
the
ground
but
potassium
hydroxide
normally
has
pH
values
of
about
13,
and
most
plants
are
comfortable
with
pH
values
in
the
6
to
7
range.
There
are
two
problems
with
this
type
of
battery.
One
is
that,
it
may
have
been
reengineered
to
be
safer
for
the
environment,
but
it’s
not
totally
safe.
Second,
there
is
no
economical
means
to
recycle
this
battery
at
this
time
however,
there
are
new
innovation
everyday.
The
resource
lifecycle
for
an
alkaline
battery
ends
when
you
throw
it
in
the
trashcan.
If
you
use
even
6
alkaline
batteries
in
a
year,
you
may
be
better
off
financially,
investing
in
rechargeable
batteries.
10
ZINC‐CARBON
BATTERY
Much
like
the
alkaline
battery,
these
are
the
common
9
volt,
AA,
AAA,
C,
and
D
cell
batteries
you
encounter,
except
they
are
cheaper,
and
less
expensive.
These
are
the
batteries
that
frequently
come
with
products
that
boast
“batteries
included,”
and
these
are
the
batteries
that
most
frequently,
swell,
burst,
and
leak.
The
battery
is
composed
of
a
mixture
of
manganese
dioxide
(MnO2),
and
carbon
powder.
The
electrolyte
is
a
thick
paste
of
zinc
chloride
(ZnCl2).
Their
power
output
is
excellent,
but
their
reliability
is
low.
It
is
not
uncommon
to
find
“Made
in
China”
printed
on
these
batteries.
The
metals
in
this
battery
are
recoverable,
but
the
processes
are
costly.
While
the
manganese
dioxide
is
rather
benign,
and
can
be
disposed
of
with
little
to
no
effect,
the
zinc
chloride
is
acidic.
Depending
on
the
purity,
the
pH
of
the
zinc
chloride
may
vary
in
the
3
to
5
range.
As
mentioned
before,
most
plants
prefer
a
pH
in
the
6
to
7
range.
Much
like
the
alkaline
battery,
there
is
no
economic
means
to
recycle
this
battery.
This
is
unfortunate
because
zinc
is
recovered
from
sulfide
deposits
which
are
difficult
to
mine.
Mining
sulfide
deposits
that
contain
copper,
nickel,
cadmium,
zinc,
and
sometimes
gold
and
silver,
requires
years
of
baseline
studies
on
the
water
tables,
and
surrounding
waterways,
legal
challenges
from
everyone
who
opposes
sulfide
mining
yet
still
use
the
products
of
sulfide
mines,
very
expensive
bonds,
and
specialized
procedures
to
contain
the
acids.
Yes,
this
form
of
mining
can,
and
is
done
safely,
it
is
simply
more
difficult
than
most
other
deposits.
A
note
about
mining
as
a
hazard
to
the
environment.
Civil
War
era
mining
techniques
were
in
fact
hazardous
to
the
environment.
It
was
not
until
the
1970’s
did
humans
begin
to
understand
the
impact
we
were
making
on
our
planet.
If
you
look
back
at
information
from
the
60’s
and
70’s,
you
will
see
that
pollution
pouring
from
smoke
stacks
was
a
symbol
of
our
advancement
in
the
industrial
age.
Today
we
are
dealing
with
the
ramifications
of
Civil
War
era
mining
techniques,
but
everything
has
changed
since
then.
11
Blacks
are
free,
women
have
the
right
to
vote,
and
mining
techniques
are
cleaner
and
safer
for
the
environment.
NICKEL‐CADMIUM
Nickel‐cadmium
(NiCd)
can
fill
the
role
of
the
alkaline,
or
zinc‐carbon
batteries
as
they
come
in
the
standard
9
volt,
AA,
AAA,
C,
and
D
cells.
The
battery
is
composed
of
nickel
oxide
hydroxide,
and
metallic
cadmium.
As
just
mentioned,
nickel,
and
cadmium
are
mined
from
sulfide
deposits.
The
batteries
do
however,
have
a
lower
working
voltage,
but
their
ability
to
provide
higher
currents
make
them
a
workhorse.
While
examining
a
suite
of
ore
samples
from
the
Kidd
Creek
mine
in
Timmins,
Ontario,
Canada,
I
found
one
of
the
samples
was
brecciate,
and
smelled
like
battery
acid.
I
found
that
the
small
ore
sample
that
contained
copper,
nickel,
cadmium,
and
zinc,
about
the
size
of
tangerine,
was
producing
electricity.
This
is
a
process
called
spontaneous
potential,
and
can
be
used
for
finding
sulfide
deposits.
Nonetheless,
the
nickel‐cadmium
battery
is
rechargeable,
has
a
very
long
useful
life,
and
when
they
are
no
longer
viable,
they
can
be
economically
recycled.
The
resource
lifecycle
is
positive
for
this
battery.
BUTTON
BATTERIES
These
are
the
small
batteries
that
go
in
wrist
watches,
hearing
aids,
and
other
small
devices.
These
batteries
are
frequently
made
of
• • •
Zinc‐air
Mercuric
oxide
Silver
oxide
12
These
are
all
recyclable,
they
may
be
collected
by
some
jewelers,
pharmacies,
or
there
may
be
a
direct
recycle
center
near
you
that
accepts
them.
In
any
case,
these
batteries
contribute
to
a
positive
resource
lifecycle.
LEAD‐ACID
Lead
(Pb),
and
sulfuric
acid
(H2SO4)
is
the
standard
battery
we
find
in
automobiles.
Many
places
require
that
you
pay
a
deposit,
if
you
are
not
exchanging
an
old
battery
for
a
new.
This
is
an
incentive
to
recycle
this
battery.
These
batteries
are
big,
heavy,
and
bulky
which
frequently
results
in
the
battery
being
dumped,
ending
up
in
ditches,
landfills,
and
even
lakes.
If
you
know
of
someone
who
needs
to
dispose
of
this
type
of
battery,
give
them
some
help
in
getting
it
to
a
recycle
center.
Manufacturers
want
to
recycle
this
battery
because
it
is
more
cost
effective
than
mining
the
materials
to
make
a
new
one.
Just
about
anyplace
that
sells
lead‐acid
batteries
will
accept
it.
LITHIUM
Lithium
batteries
are
used
in
our
computers,
cell
phones,
and
are
finding
a
new
place
in
electric
cars.
Lithium
batteries
have
various
compositions
but
a
common
one
that
involves
a
long
product
life
is
the
lithium‐thionyl
chloride
battery
cell.
This
cell
is
composed
of
a
liquid
mix
of
thionyl
chloride
(SOCl2),
and
lithium
tetrachloroaluminate
(LiAlCl4).
Lithium
also
has
to
be
mined.
Lithium
is
derived
from
the
mineral
Spodumene.
Spodumene
LiAl(SiO3)2,
as
the
chemical
formula
suggests,
has
one
lithium
atom,
one
aluminum
atom,
and
a
chain
of
silica
and
oxygen
atoms.
To
refine
the
ore
may
involve
numerous
processes,
depending
on
what
accessory
minerals
are
present.
As
an
example,
the
mineral
can
be
decomposed
in
sulfuric
acid
to
liberate
the
lithium
and
aluminum
from
the
silica
and
oxygen.
This
leaves
a
lithium
aluminate.
Of
course
this
must
be
refined
to
a
pure
lithium.
13
There
is
a
refractory
process,
or
a
chemical
process
that
can
be
followed.
In
both
cases,
it
is
very
energy
intensive
to
produce
lithium.
Furthermore,
the
countries
with
the
most
significant
lithium
deposits
in
the
world
are
not
always
friendly
with
their
trading
partners.
It
is
in
the
best
interest
of
everyone
that
we
recycle
this
battery
to
ensure
we
have
the
resource
available
to
power
our
future
automobiles.
SUMMARY
OF
BATTERIES
Batteries
are
a
necessary
part
of
our
lives,
and
essential
to
storing
power
that
was
harvested
by
green
technologies
such
as
solar
and
wind.
The
composition
of
the
batteries,
and
the
state
of
our
technology
determines
what
elements
can,
and
cannot
be
economically
recycled.
Batteries
are
frequently
reformulated,
check
the
labels.
Being
informed,
and
buying
smart
will
pressure
manufactures,
and
their
engineers
to
produce
more
effective,
safer,
and
more
easily
recycled
batteries.
14
As
said
before.
If
it
isn’t
grown,
it
has
to
be
mined.
Plastic
is
made
from
oil
is
derive
from
petroleum
mining.
Oil
is
called
a
fossil
fuel
but
in
reality,
oil
was
formed
from
algae,
plants,
and
possibly
some
fish,
and
maybe
a
dinosaur
or
mammal
got
into
the
mix.
All
forms
of
petroleum
are
different
combinations
of
hydrogen
(H),
and
carbon
(C)
atoms
known
as
hydrocarbon
chains.
When
crude
oil
is
refined,
the
impurities
are
removed,
and
the
various
grades
of
oil
to
gas
are
produced.
The
process
is
called
Fractional
Distillation.
The
crude
oil
is
heated
to
its
vaporizing
point.
Once
it
is
vaporized,
it
enters
the
distillation
column
where
the
lighter
vapors
rise
to
the
top
and
escape
through
the
cooling
tube
where
it
returns
to
a
liquid
state.
The
lighter
the
vapors
have
few
carbon
atoms.
At
the
very
top
you
can
envision
methane
being
produced
with
a
chemical
formula
of
HC4.
Gasoline
is
expected
to
have
about
8
carbon
atoms,
and
diesel
further
down
has
about
twice
that
amount
of
carbon
atoms.
The
below
cartoon
depicts
how
the
heavier
atoms
condense
lower
in
the
distillation
column,
and
the
lighter
atoms
reach
the
top
of
the
column
before
condensing.
The
system
is
far
more
complicated
than
the
cartoon
with
a
series
of
traps,
and
barriers,
and
computerized
control
flow,
but
the
general
concept
is
accurately
depicted.
15
A
lot
of
seismic
efforts
are
employed
to
find
the
oil
deposits,
there
are
legal
battles
that
are
fought
making
the
product
more
expensive,
the
drilling
is
expensive,
and
dangerous.
More
people
are
killed
each
year
in
petroleum
mining
accidents
than
subsurface
mining
accidents.
Moving
the
oil
from
the
site
to
the
refinery
is
costly,
and
in
cases
like
the
Exxon
Valdez,
it
can
be
detrimental.
The
actual
process
of
vaporizing
crude
oil
is
both
energy
intensive,
and
dangerous,
but
yields
refined
oil,
the
fundamental
element
to
make
our
plastics.
That
was
a
lot
work
to
get
that
plastic
bag.
When
it
comes
to
plastics,
being
smart
consumers,
and
supporting
the
resource
lifecycle
process
involves
looking
at,
and
understanding
the
recycle
code
on
the
container.
Some
plastics
are
easy
to
recycle,
and
others
very
difficult,
and
energy
intensive.
The
plastics
are
marked
by
a
code,
developed
by
the
Society
of
Plastic
Engineers
that
identifies
what
resins
were
used
to
make
the
plastic.
The
resins
used
determines
how
easy
it
will
be
to
recycle
the
plastic.
16
Polyethylene
Terephthalate
(PET
or
PETE).
PETE
is
normally
clear,
and
is
a
good
moisture
barrier.
PETE
is
frequently
used
in
beverage
bottle,
sandwich
bags,
and
injection
molding
products.
PETE
is
the
easiest
plastic
to
recycle
and
is
in
high
demand.
High
Density
Polyethylene
(HDPE).
HDPE
is
used
to
make
bottles
for
milk,
water,
paint,
heavier
liquids,
and
household
chemicals
such
as
drain
cleaner.
Like
PETE,
HDPE
has
good
moisture
barrier
properties.
This
is
the
next
easiest
plastic
to
recycle.
Vinyl
(Polyvinyl
Chloride
or
PVC)
(PVC).
PVC
is
used
for
durable
products
such
as
rain
gear,
shower
curtains,
and
sewer
plumbing.
It
is
also
used
to
contain
biohazards
such
as
blood.
Recycling
PVC
is
energy
intensive.
Low
Density
Polyethylene
(LDPE).
Is
tough,
and
still
flexible.
It
is
durable,
and
it
frequently
used
to
make
storage
bins,
and
trashcans.
Like
PVC,
LDPE
can
be
recycled
but
is
energy
intensive.
Polypropylene
(PP).
PP
is
a
hard
rigid
plastic
with
a
high
melting
point
making
it
ideal
for
housing
automobile
batteries.
This
plastic
too
is
very
energy
intensive
to
recycle.
Polystyrene
(PS).
PS
can
be
formed
as
a
rigid
plastic
or
as
a
foam.
It
has
a
low
melting
point,
and
is
frequently
used
as
drinking
cups,
and
lids.
This
is
a
very
easy
plastic
to
recycle.
17
Other.
This
symbol
means
that
the
plastic
is
made
with
resins
that
do
not
fall
into
any
of
the
other
six
categories.
Some
recycling
centers
will
not
accept
items
marked
with
3,
4,
5,
or
7
however,
most
accept
1,
2,
and
6.
These
plastics
codes,
for
the
most
part,
are
sorted
by
hand
for
recycling.
After
sorting
they
are
bundled.
The
bundles
are
ground
up,
fed
to
an
extruder,
screened,
then
reheated
and
formed
into
pellets.
The
pellets
are
then
boxed
and
shipped
to
manufactures.
Technology
will
expedite
the
process
of
sorting.
Most
recently,
a
device
that
shreds
the
plastic
into
equal
sized
pieces,
and
using
high
pressure
water
forcing
the
plastics
through
a
cyclone,
has
proven
successful
in
sorting
plastic
types
through
weight,
and
gravity.
Like
batteries,
plastics
play
a
vital
role
in
our
society.
In
supporting
the
resource
lifecycle,
making
smart
choices
about
the
product
containers
we
purchase
will
make
a
difference.
Applying
critical
thinking
is
also
important.
In
lieu
of
buying
a
liter
of
water
in
a
plastic
bottle,
it
is
more
economical
to
buy
a
one
liter
stainless
steel
water
bottle,
and
fill
it.
If
you
have
a
requirement
for
filtered
water,
it
can
be
purchased
by
the
gallon
for
less
cost,
and
resulting
in
fewer
plastic
containers
purchased
to
recycle.
SUMMARY
OF
PLASTICS
Plastic
is
great
stuff
that
has
revolutionized
science,
medicine,
clothing,
tools,
automobiles,
and
almost
every
aspect
of
our
lives.
But
we
still
need
to
be
smart
consumers,
and
critical
thinkers.
When
we
18
buy
an
item
that
is
coded
as
3,
4,
5,
or
7,
we
should
ensure
we
are
buying
a
truly
durable
product.
If
the
product
is
a
trashcan,
it
will
probably
be
coded
as
a
4.
Some
trashcans
are
thin,
fragile,
and
break
in
a
week,
and
others
at
a
higher
cost
will
last
years.
19
Basic
glass
is
a
remarkably
simple
product
consisting
of
silica
(SiO2),
your
ordinary
beach
sand,
heated
to
about
2300⁰C
or
4200⁰F.
Humans
have
been
making
glass
since
about
3000
BC,
but
during
the
bronze
age,
many
developments
in
the
technology
advanced.
Today
we
use
standard
glass
for
food
containers,
mirrors,
light
bulbs,
and
windows.
More
specialized
forms
of
glass
are
used
in
arc
lamps,
airlines,
older
TV
picture
tubes,
and
ballistic
glass.
Of
course
ordinary
glass
would
never
serve
the
needs
of
ordinary
people,
and
the
product
it
modified
through
introductions
of
various
other
chemical
elements.
Sodium
carbonate
(Na2CO3)
consists
of
two
sodium
atoms,
one
carbon
atom,
and
three
oxygen
atoms.
Introducing
sodium
carbonate
to
the
silica
reducing
the
melting
temperature
to
about
1500⁰C
or
2700⁰F
requiring
less
energy
to
manipulate
the
glass.
To
enhance
the
chemical
durability
of
the
glass,
other
elements
are
added
such
as
aluminum
oxide
(AlO),
calcium
oxide
(CaO),
and
even
magnesium
oxide
(MgO).
If
the
melted
glass
were
allowed
to
cool
slowly,
then
crystallization
would
occur,
but
that
is
not
a
desired
feature
in
glass.
Subsequently,
rapid
quenching
is
conducted
to
cool
the
glass
quickly
freezing
the
atoms
in‐place.
This
prevents
the
atoms
from
forming
organized
20
patterns,
and
the
amorphous
nature
of
glass
provides
us
the
characteristics
we
want
and
need.
As
you
might
imagine,
producing
glass
is
a
dirty,
and
energy
intensive
process.
The
recycling
of
a
single
glass
bottle
saves
enough
energy
to
run
a
100
watt
light
for
up
to
four
hours,
and
it
results
in
20%
less
air
pollution,
and
50%
less
water
pollution
that
the
production
of
a
new
bottle
from
the
initial
raw
resources
that
were
mined
to
begin
with
would
cause
(Recycling
Facts,
2009).
The
process
of
recycling
glass
begins
by
cleaning
the
glass,
removing
labels,
plastic
and
metal
tops,
and
any
other
foreign
objects.
Once
cleaned,
the
glass
can
be
crushed
into
a
material
basic
called
cullet.
Because
of
the
other
materials
added
to
the
processed
glass,
the
process
glass
melts
at
a
lower
temperature
than
the
initial
raw
materials.
If
you
allow
you
glass
containers
to
go
to
a
landfill,
it
will
take
more
than
4000
years
for
it
to
biodegrade.
Some
recycling
centers
do
not,
or
do
not
want
to
accept
glass
because
of
its
weight,
and
the
distance
to
the
nearest
processing
plant.
SUMMARY
OF
GLASS
Glass
is
a
durable
item
used
in
homes
and
industry.
It
is
much
more
cost
effective,
and
less
destructive
to
recycle
glass,
than
to
make
it
from
raw
materials.
It
has
a
very
high
resource
life
cycle
21
In
this
section
we
will
not
only
look
at
lighting,
and
lamp
recycling,
but
another
critical
subject
to
nature
being
light
pollution,
and
light
trespass.
For
household
lighting
we
have
various
options
that
relate
to
energy
efficiency,
and
environmental
safety.
INDOORS
LIGHTING
Household
lighting
typically
consist
of
incandescent
light
bulbs,
but
fluorescent
lamps,
high‐intensity
discharge
lamps,
and
light‐emitting
diodes
are
becoming
more
popular.
INCANDESCENT
LIGHT
BULBS
The
incandescent
light
bulb
is
simple,
and
cheap
to
make.
It
was
invented
in
the
very
early
1800’s.
It
operates
with
either
an
alternating
current
(AC),
or
a
direct
current
(DC).
The
earliest
incandescent
bulbs
operated
off
of
DC
batteries.
Because
of
this
they
are
great
for
home,
and
flashlight
use.
The
housing
of
the
bulb
is
a
thin
glass
envelope,
the
base
is
made
of
metal,
and
the
insulator
between
the
two
metal
contacts
is
made
of
foamed
glass.
The
filament
that
actually
produces
the
light
was
originally
made
of
carbon,
but
it
was
later
found
that
tungsten
was
22
more
effective.
Tungsten
(W)
is
a
metal
element.
It
is
usually
mined
from
magmatic
or
hydrothermal
deposits,
or
locations
where
volcanoes
once
lived,
and
waters
passed
over
the
still
hot
deposits.
As
with
almost
everything
we
encounter,
tungsten
does
not
come
in
a
pure
form,
and
it
must
be
processed
to
be
usable.
Tungsten
is
derived
from
either
wolframite
((Fe,
Mn)
WO4),
or
scheelite
(CaWO4.)
In
both
ores,
the
tungsten
is
bound
to
four
oxygen
atoms.
In
the
first
ore
mentioned,
wolframite,
notice
that
the
(Fe,
Mn)
are
carried
in
parethesis.
This
mean
that
either
iron
(Fe),
or
manganese
(Mn)
atoms
can
be
used
in
the
chemical
sequence.
In
the
second
form,
the
Calcium
(Ca)
atom
bonds
with
the
WO4
to
form
scheelite.
The
wolframite,
and
scheelite
ores
are
both
difficult
to
mine.
The
processing
of
the
material
first
involves
crushing
the
ore.
Separating
can
usually
be
done
by
gravity
(gravimetric
methods).
If
FeWO4
is
being
milled,
magnetics
can
also
be
used
to
help
separate
the
iron.
To
further
refine
the
tungsten,
it
must
be
brought
up
to
the
melting
point
which
is
energy
intensive
as
tungsten
has
one
of
the
highest
melting
points
of
any
element
(3422 °C,
6192 °F).
The
earlier
bulbs
were
vacuum
sealed,
allowing
the
tungsten
to
last
longer.
Now,
home
use
bulbs
are
typically
filled
with
a
mixture
of
argon
and
nitrogen
gases.
Smaller
flashlight
bulbs
are
sometimes
filled
with
krypton
or
xenon
gas.
Because
of
variations
in
the
thickness
of
the
wire,
hotspots
form,
the
wire
breaks
leading
to
the
end
of
the
bulb’s
life.
To
make
the
lamps
last
longer,
lower
temperatures
are
maintained
across
the
wire.
This
is
done
by
using
a
longer,
and
thicker
wire.
Another
variation
is
the
halogen
lamp.
In
lieu
of
argon
and
nitrogen
gases,
halogen
gas
is
used
at
a
low
pressure.
This
allows
the
tungsten
23
to
operate
at
a
higher
temperature,
and
subsequently
a
brighter
light
is
produced.
Zenon,
krypton,
and
argon
are
all
noble
gases
that
are
obtained
from
our
atmosphere
through
various
distillation
techniques.
Halogen
on
the
other
hand
is
manufactured
from
various
halides
in
a
not
so
expensive
process.
The
manufacturing
of
the
glass
from
sand,
the
mining
and
refinement
of
the
metals,
distillations
of
the
gases,
this
is
a
lot
of
work
and
effort
put
into
something
that
we
simply
through
away.
The
resource
lifecycle
on
this
is
really
low.
The
economic
practicality
of
recycling
an
incandescent
lamp
is
also
really
low.
This
would
involve
breaking
the
glass
and
letting
the
gas
go
back
into
the
atmosphere,
which
makes
sense
because
that’s
where
it
came
from.
Separate
the
tiny
little
piece
of
tungsten,
the
other
metal
parts,
and
send
them
to
three
different
recyclers.
This
would
make
sense
if
there
were
large
collection
points
that
processed,
but
the
economics
have
to
be
there
to
support
it.
FLUORESCENT
LAMPS
Fluorescent
lamps
are
more
complicated
than
the
incandescent
lamp.
This
lamp
uses
electricity
to
excite
mercury
vapor
inside
of
the
glass
envelope.
The
excited
mercury
atoms
oscillate
at
a
very
short
frequency.
This
oscillation
causes
the
phosphor
coating
the
inside
of
the
glass
to
fluoresce,
and
subsequently
produce
the
visible
light
our
eyes
need
to
see.
Another
factor
that
makes
the
fluorescent
lamp
more
complicated,
and
expensive
is
the
ballast.
The
ballast
regulates
the
flow
of
electricity
in
the
lamp.
This
lamp
however,
uses
much
less
electricity,
and
last
longer
thus
making
is
cost
effective
to
use
this
light.
24
Because
these
lamps
do
contain
mercury
vapor,
they
should
be
handled
with
care.
Should
the
lamp
be
broken,
some
considerations
should
be
taken
into
account.
The
EPA
universal
waste
rule
requires
that
the
broken
lamp
be
cleaned
up
and
placed
in
a
structurally
sound
sealed
container.
In
some
States,
“Universal
Waste”
status
is
lost
when
lamps
are
broken.
In
these
states,
the
broken
lamp
must
be
handled
as
a
full‐hazardous
waste
(National
Electrical
Manufacturers
Association,
2004).
The
cleanup
procedure
for
a
broken
fluorescent
lamp
is
as
follows
and
is
derived
directly
from
the
EPA
verbatim
(EPA,
2009)
Before
Clean‐up:
Air
Out
the
Room
•
• •
Have
people
and
pets
leave
the
room,
and
don't
let
anyone
walk
through
the
breakage
area
on
their
way
out.
Open
a
window
and
leave
the
room
for
15
minutes
or
more.
Shut
off
the
central
forced‐air
heating/air
conditioning
system,
if
you
have
one.
Clean‐Up
Steps
for
Hard
Surfaces
•
•
Carefully
scoop
up
glass
pieces
and
powder
using
stiff
paper
or
cardboard
and
place
them
in
a
glass
jar
with
metal
lid
(such
as
a
canning
jar)
or
in
a
sealed
plastic
bag.
Use
sticky
tape,
such
as
duct
tape,
to
pick
up
any
remaining
small
glass
fragments
and
powder.
25
•
•
Wipe
the
area
clean
with
damp
paper
towels
or
disposable
wet
wipes.
Place
towels
in
the
glass
jar
or
plastic
bag.
Do
not
use
a
vacuum
or
broom
to
clean
up
the
broken
bulb
on
hard
surfaces.
Clean‐up
Steps
for
Carpeting
or
Rug
•
•
•
•
Carefully
pick
up
glass
fragments
and
place
them
in
a
glass
jar
with
metal
lid
(such
as
a
canning
jar)
or
in
a
sealed
plastic
bag.
Use
sticky
tape,
such
as
duct
tape,
to
pick
up
any
remaining
small
glass
fragments
and
powder.
If
vacuuming
is
needed
after
all
visible
materials
are
removed,
vacuum
the
area
where
the
bulb
was
broken.
Remove
the
vacuum
bag
(or
empty
and
wipe
the
canister),
and
put
the
bag
or
vacuum
debris
in
a
sealed
plastic
bag.
Clean‐up
Steps
for
Clothing,
Bedding
and
Other
Soft
Materials
•
If
clothing
or
bedding
materials
come
in
direct
contact
with
broken
glass
or
mercury‐containing
powder
from
inside
the
bulb
that
may
stick
to
the
fabric,
the
clothing
or
bedding
should
be
thrown
away.
Do
not
wash
such
clothing
or
bedding
because
mercury
fragments
in
the
clothing
may
26
•
•
contaminate
the
machine
and/or
pollute
sewage.
You
can,
however,
wash
clothing
or
other
materials
that
have
been
exposed
to
the
mercury
vapor
from
a
broken
CFL,
such
as
the
clothing
you
are
wearing
when
you
cleaned
up
the
broken
CFL,
as
long
as
that
clothing
has
not
come
into
direct
contact
with
the
materials
from
the
broken
bulb.
If
shoes
come
into
direct
contact
with
broken
glass
or
mercury‐ containing
powder
from
the
bulb,
wipe
them
off
with
damp
paper
towels
or
disposable
wet
wipes.
Place
the
towels
or
wipes
in
a
glass
jar
or
plastic
bag
for
disposal.
Disposal
of
Clean‐up
Materials
•
•
•
Immediately
place
all
clean‐up
materials
outdoors
in
a
trash
container
or
protected
area
for
the
next
normal
trash
pickup.
Wash
your
hands
after
disposing
of
the
jars
or
plastic
bags
containing
clean‐up
materials.
Check
with
your
local
or
state
government
about
disposal
requirements
in
your
specific
area.
Some
states
do
not
allow
such
trash
disposal.
Instead,
they
require
that
broken
and
unbroken
mercury‐containing
bulbs
be
taken
to
a
local
recycling
center.
27
Future
Cleaning
of
Carpeting
or
Rug:
Air
Out
the
Room
During
and
After
Vacuuming
•
•
The
next
several
times
you
vacuum,
shut
off
the
central
forced‐air
heating/air
conditioning
system
and
open
a
window
before
vacuuming.
Keep
the
central
heating/air
conditioning
system
shut
off
and
the
window
open
for
at
least
15
minutes
after
vacuuming
is
completed.
While
the
material
inside
the
lamp
is
hazardous,
careful
handling,
and
knowledge
in
safe
disposal
of
the
product
can
mitigate
the
risk
involved.
The
benefits
of
using
this
lamp
out‐weight
the
risks.
It
uses
less
electricity,
last
longer,
and
is
recyclable.
The
problem
with
recycling
this
lamp
is
finding
a
location
that
accepts
them—regardless
of
the
challenge,
this
product
needs
to
be
recycled
because
we
don’t
need
mercury
vapor
in
our
atmosphere.
This
product
has
a
medium
high
resource
lifecycle.
HIGH‐INTENSITY
DISCHARGE
LAMP
The
high‐intensity
discharge
lamp
uses
two
tungsten
electrodes
inside
a
clear
quartz
envelope.
The
envelope
is
filled
with
gases
and
metal
salts.
The
electricity
causes
a
heat
producing
arc
the
melts
the
metal
salts
causing
them
to
form
a
plasma.
This
is
a
much
brighter
light
than
the
incandescent
or
the
fluorescent
lamp
and
not
actually
suitable
for
home
use,
but
it
efficient
for
lighting
warehousing,
gyms,
or
other
large
structures.
28
Like
the
fluorescent
lamp,
this
light
uses
a
ballast
to
control
its
electricity
flow.
This
is
an
energy
efficient
light,
and
has
a
high
resource
lifecycle.
High‐intensity
discharge
lamps
should
be
handled,
and
recycled
like
mercury
vapor
lamps.
LIGHT‐EMITTING
DIODE
(LED)
The
LED
is
listed
here
under
indoors
lighting,
but
it’s
finding
its
place
in
outdoors
lighting
now
which
will
also
be
addressed.
The
reason
for
the
indoors
listing
was
is
that
this
light
was
initially
used
exclusively
in
indoors
electronics
components.
The
basic
LED
is
made
of
gallium
antimonide
(GaSb),
GaAs,
indium
phosphide
(InP),
and
silicon‐ germanium
(SiGe).
These
materials
are
all
mined.
LEDs
are
incredibly
energy
efficient.
As
we
have
developed
the
technology,
we
have
learned
how
to
make
the
LED
operate
in
various
frequencies
which
now
allow
us
to
make
heat
producing
infrared,
to
visible
yellow,
blue,
and
even
white
light
LEDs.
The
anode
and
cathode
of
the
LED
are
housed
inside
an
epoxy.
Applying
planar
optics
to
the
end
of
the
housing,
engineers
have
developed
a
means
to
control
how
the
LED
disperses
its
light.
It
may
radiate
out
50
degree,
just
30
degrees,
or
even
be
pin
point.
At
the
current
time,
there
is
no
practical
means
of
recycling
this
type
of
light.
LIGHT
POLLUTION
&
LIGHT
TRESPASS
Before
addressing
the
different
types
of
outdoor
lighting
there
are
two
subjects
that
too
often
go
unnoticed.
29
Light
pollution
is
light
going
up
into
the
sky.
One
may
wonder
just
how
significant
that
is
to
recycling,
and
environmental
protection.
There
are
three
aspects
to
this.
ONE‐
Light
going
up
into
the
sky
is
wasted
light.
It
means
we
used
more
light
than
was
necessary
for
the
purpose
at
hand.
It
means
we
wasted
the
electricity
to
produce
that
excess
light.
TWO‐
Light
disrupts
nature.
The
National
Park
Service
said
it
best‐
“The
darkness
is
part
of
nature's
clock.
The
changes
in
light
and
dark
trigger
hormonal
changes
in
wildlife.”
They
expressed
the
importance
of
darkness
for
our
nocturnal
creatures,
the
importance
of
darkness
in
the
mating
of
many
large
mammals,
and
the
how
light
disrupts
the
natural
beauty
of
our
park
systems
(National
Park
Service,
2007).
THREE‐
Finally,
in
our
own
self
interest.
If
you
have
visited
places
that
do
not
have
humans
wasting
electricity,
you
can
look
up
and
see
the
Milky
Way.
Most
people
have
probably
never
looked
up
to
see
the
galaxy
we
live
in
because
they
can’t
see
it
for
the
excessive
light
pollution.
Many
children
in
inner‐urban
environments
have
never
even
seen
the
stars.
Light
pollution
has
other
impacts
on
humans.
It
is
disrupting
our
advances
in
astronomy.
Many
ground
based
stellar
observatories
are
currently
being
threatened
by
light
pollution.
Light
pollution
makes
these
multimillion
dollar
facilities
worthless.
This
begs
us
to
ask
why
do
we
need
all
of
the
lights
on
at
night?
Why
do
the
doctors’
and
lawyers’
offices
have
to
be
lit
all
night
with
lights
pointing
straight
up
at
their
signs?
Has
anyone
ever
really
needed
a
midnight
lawyer?
Does
leaving
lights
on
all
night
improve
security?
The
answer
to
that
30
question
is
“NO.”
Leaving
lights
on
all
night
provides
criminals
with
working
lights.
No
one
notices
the
person
under
the
light.
A
motion
detector
light
does,
on
the
other
hand
get
attention.
Another
drawback
to
leaving
business
lights
on
all
night
is
that
you,
the
customer,
is
the
one
who
is
paying
the
electric
bill
for
that
business.
LIGHT
TRESPASS
Light
trespass
is
a
simple
subject
that
involves
inconsideration
for
our
fellow
humans,
as
well
as
nature.
Light
trespass
can
be
explained
by
a
scenario.
Your
next
door
neighbor
is
paranoid
of
crime,
subsequently
he
lights
his
house
up
like
a
football
stadium.
The
light
blares
into
your
bedroom
causing
a
daylight
atmosphere
that
disrupts
your
sleep.
Your
neighbor’s
light
is
trespassing
in
your
bedroom.
Light
trespass
not
only
occurs
to
people,
but
to
animals,
and
plants
too.
OUTDOOR
LIGHTING
Outdoor
lighting
normally
consists
of
street
lamps,
security
lights,
porch
lights,
stadium
lamps,
street
lights,
and
motor
vehicle
lights.
Outdoor
lighting
needs
to
be
applied
with
critical
thinking
in
concert
with
technological
advancements,
and
a
little
knowledge
about
the
albedo
of
the
surface
is
needed.
Albedo
is
a
ratio
that
gives
a
result
of
0
to
1
wherein
0
is
dark
and
1
is
bright.
This
ratio
tells
us
how
well
an
object
will
diffuse
or
reflect
light.
A
street
light
over
a
blackened
street
probably
reflect
little
light,
should
that
same
street
be
snow
covered,
the
light
reflection
may
be
high.
STREET
LAMPS
Street
lamps,
and
parking
lot
lamps
are
primarily
for
the
safety
of
pedestrians.
They
don’t
need
to
be
bright
enough
for
you
to
sit
in
you
car
and
read,
they
merely
need
to
be
bright
enough
for
the
pedestrian
31
to
navigate
the
sidewalk,
or
to
get
from
their
transportation
to
the
door.
Any
brighter
than
that,
then
light
pollution
is
the
result.
Good
street
lamps
are
considered
full
cut‐off.
These
street
lamps
look
like
a
box
pointing
straight
down,
100%
of
the
light
directed
down
using
this
type
of
light.
Decorative
lights
are
frequently
the
worse.
These
allow
up
to
100%
of
the
light
to
go
up,
and
actually
do
little
for
effective
ground
lighting.
The
typical
street
lamp
known
as
the
cobra
allows
30%
of
the
light
to
go
up.
Any
outdoor
light
that
is
not
pointing
down
is
bad.
32
Some
cities,
and
even
states
are
implementing
laws
to
reduce
light
pollution.
Connecticut
laws,
leading
the
pack,
now
aim
at
reducing
stray
light
from
street
lamps.
This
can
most
effectively
be
approached
by
the
design,
and
using
a
full
cut‐off
design.
With
the
various
designs
that
range
from
good
to
bad,
we
have
a
variety
of
different
lamps
that
can
actually
be
employed
in
these
designs.
As
a
project
in
mapping
light
pollution
over
Traverse
City,
Michigan,
and
how
it
impacts
the
observatory
there,
the
following
overlay
was
developed
and
placed
on
the
Traverse
City
map:
33
The
spiked
areas
in
the
previous
overlay
directly
related
to
the
areas
where
most
auto
dealerships
were
located,
the
downtown
area,
the
postal
distribution
center,
and
the
airport.
Thinking
the
airport
was
excusable
was
wrong,
the
majority
sky‐glow
at
the
airport
was
coming
from
the
parking
lot
lights;
the
approach
lights
were
only
used
when
aircraft
were
inbound.
The
auto
dealerships
were
running
up
the
cost
of
cars
with
their
electric
bills,
and
the
city
was
charging
the
taxpayers
a
lot
of
money
to
keep
street
lamps
lit,
and
city
buildings
lit‐up
like
they
were
open
for
business
all
night.
The
U.S.
Postal
distribution
center
was
a
serious
contributor
to
the
light
pollution
as
well.
The
below
picture
was
taken
with
infrared
film
to
demonstrate
the
intensity
of
the
Traverse
City
lighting.
City
Building
If
protecting
nature
isn’t
a
good
enough
reason
to
stop
light
pollution,
then
maybe
lowering
our
taxes,
and
reducing
the
cost
of
end
item
are
good
enough.
We
are
paying
higher
taxes,
and
more
for
end
items,
to
disrupt
nature
with
our
light
pollution.
34
The
various
types
of
lamps
that
go
into
these
designs
also
range
from
good
to
bad.
High
pressure
sodium
lamps
contain
small
amounts
of
mercury.
These
lamps
produce
the
bright
white
light
you
see
in
some
street
lights,
and
many
park
lot
lights.
Other
bright
white
lamps
used
in
street
lights
include
the
mercury
vapor,
high‐intensity
discharge,
and
the
metal
halide.
This
type
of
light
used
as
street
lights
actually
produce
dangerous
glares,
and
are
not
necessary
in
parking
lots.
The
low
pressure
sodium
vapor
lamp
produces
a
softer
red
colored
light,
close
to
590
nm
in
wavelength.
This
type
of
lamp
does
not
last
as
long
as
the
high
pressure
sodium
lamp,
but
it
produces
less
light
pollution,
and
is
easier
to
recycle.
The
most
effective
street
lighting
found
so
far
is
the
LED.
These
lights
can
be
smart,
and
adjust
for
varying
surface
albedos
of
dry,
rain,
and
snow.
They
cost
the
least
to
operate,
and
they
are
the
most
durable.
The
City
of
Raleigh,
North
Carolina
installed
23
LED
street
lights
in
a
pilot
project.
They
found
that
the
23
LED
lights
will
save
the
city
over
$100,000.00
in
energy
cost
over
20
years
(City
of
Raleigh,
2008).
With
an
increased
use
in
LED
lighting,
there
may
possibly
be
an
economic
recycling
method
in
the
future.
While
the
type
of
lighting
was
important
to
cover
as
it
applies
to
our
domestic
lives,
it
was
also
important
to
cover
housing
designs,
and
light
types
as
they
apply
light
pollution,
light
trespass,
and
the
resource
lifecycle.
These
are
all
relevant
to
saving
energy,
and
being
environmentally
aware
however,
these
programs
frequently
occur
at
the
city,
or
state
level,
and
require
civic
awareness,
and
action
to
pressure
governments
to
implement
the
right
decision.
35
SUMMARY
OF
LIGHTS
Fluorescent
lamps
are
the
most
economical,
and
recyclable
lighting
available
for
residential
use.
The
use
of
LED
lighting
in
conjunction
with
full‐cutoff
light
hoods
provides
the
best
lighting,
and
the
lowest
operating
cost,
while
protecting
the
environment
from
light
pollution,
and
trespass.
36
Got
wood?
One
of
the
most
unusual
presentations
occurred
at
the
mining
convention
in
Toronto,
Canada
in
2007.
Dr.
Patrick
Moore,
PhD.
of
Ecology
was
the
keynote
speaker
for
the
Prospectors
and
Developers
Conference.
Dr.
Moore
was
the
founder
of
Green
Peace.
He
is
the
man
you
see
in
the
photos
on
the
little
rubber
raft,
putting
himself
between
the
harpoon
gun
and
the
whale.
He
is
the
one
you
see
in
pictures
body
blocking
men
with
baseball
bats
from
killing
baby
seals.
He
is
a
person
with
the
academic
credentials
in
ecology
to
pontificate
about
the
subject,
and
is
willing
to
put
his
life
on
the
line
to
defend
his
beliefs.
Subsequently,
Dr.
Moore
has
earned
the
respect
of
most
free
nations
on
Earth
for
his
efforts.
Dr.
Moore
explained
that
he
was
proud
of
the
organization
that
he
helped
form,
but
at
the
end
of
the
Vietnam
war,
war
protestors
with
nothing
to
do
began
filling
the
ranks
of
Green
Peace.
He
saw
his
organization
become
overwhelmed
by
militant
environmentalists
who
didn’t
understand
the
big
picture.
He
further
said
he
was
tired
of
being
against
everything,
and
wanted
to
be
for
something.
That
was
an
inspirational
note
for
anyone.
Dr.
Moore
left
Green
Peace,
and
moved
on
to
form
Greenspirit.
Dr.
Moore
asked
“Where
is
the
positive
vision?”
And
from
his
website
he
explains‐
“Greenspirit,
a
concept
that
combines
environmentalism
with
both
a
deep
appreciation
of
nature
and
an
enthusiasm
for
the
challenge.
"Spirit"
as
in
spiritual
and
"spirit"
as
in
team
spirit.”
He
37
focuses
on
reusable
and
renewable
resources,
and
with
that
he
postulates
that
more
trees
are
the
answer
(Moore,
2009).
Forestry
once
consisted
of
clear
cutting,
but
has
become
a
science
with
degrees
in
forestry
that
address
ecology,
and
sustainment
of
the
natural
resources.
Wood
is
a
fascinating
resource.
It’s
renewable—if
we
cut
one
tree
down
we
can
grow
another,
or
more.
With
responsible
harvesting,
we
can
actually
increase
the
population
of
trees
on
Earth
while
preventing
devastating
wild
fires.
A
trip
through
British
Columbia
reveals
how
intensely
they
rely
upon
their
forestry
industry.
Forest
are
well
managed,
in
fact,
it
looks
like
the
rainforest
of
North
America.
Firebreaks
are
well
cared
for
and
wide
enough
to
ensure
fires
cannot
jump
breaks.
They
understand
the
importance
of
their
resource.
Wood
is
also
generous
enough
to
come
in
a
variety
of
hardneses,
and
colors.
Wood
can
be
found
in
colors
ranging
from
black,
brown,
grey,
green,
and
white.
The
woods
can
range
from
balsa
or
cork,
to
hickory
or
ebony.
We
use
wood
in
more
ways
than
most
people
would
imagine.
Of
course
there
is
home
construction,
heat,
musical
instruments,
paper,
cardboard,
boats,
some
planes,
toys,
and
art.
But
what
about
chip,
the
dust,
ash,
and
even
the
old
used
wood.
The
old
used
wood
can
be
reused
again.
A
tragedy
and
travesty
in
the
same
sweeping
moment.
A
neighbor
wanted
his
100
year
old
maple
floor
replaced
because
it
was
buckling.
This
was
an
effect
of
the
house
foundation
settling.
The
replacement
would
be
a
new
¾
inch
OSB
flooring
covered
by
carpet.
Technically
there
was
nothing
wrong
with
the
maple
floor,
it
could
have
been
removed,
and
used
in
a
cabin,
an
attic,
or
other
creative
construction
practices.
The
construction
crew
38
came
in,
set
their
saw
blades
for
¾
inches
and
chopped
out
the
maple
floor
in
short
sections.
A
half
dozen
people
came
forward
upon
hearing
of
this
offering
to
remove
the
floor
for
free.
It
is
easy
to
see
a
reuse
for
old
maple
floors,
but
what
about
old
2X4s?
In
older
homes,
2X4s
are
often
made
of
hardwood,
such
as
oak.
Many
times
the
construction
was
balloon
construction
wherein
the
old
oak
2X4s
span
from
the
foundation
to
the
attic
in
one
long
timber
as
opposed
to
8
foot
long
pine
2X4s
you
find
used
now.
The
opportunity
to
disassemble
an
old
home
is
a
very
financially
viable
recycling
effort.
For
those
involved
in
birding.
The
practice
of
watching,
feeding,
housing,
and
enjoying
birds.
Old
wood
offers
the
birder
the
opportunity
to
build
houses
and
feeders.
Even
an
old
pallet
would
make
nesting
homes
for
a
dozen
Finches.
Bat
houses
are
another
option
for
old
pallets.
In
fact,
the
applications
for
old
pallets,
and
other
pieces
of
wood
are
only
limited
to
your
imaginations.
Wood
chips
and
saw
dust
have
their
applications
in
resource
lifecycle.
Commercially,
these
materials
can
be
used
to
make
composite
woods,
and
fire
logs.
Individually
they
are
often
found
uses
in
compost,
or
added
to
gardens.
Some
people
caution
that
woodchips,
or
wood
dust
from
pressure
treated
wood
should
not
be
used
for
these
applications
because
of
the
arsenic
content
in
the
pressure
treating.
Experiments
in
various
climate
show
that
the
arsenic
does
not
actually
leach
into
the
ground
but
then
again
the
wood
is
not
biodegrading
either—this
defeats
the
purpose
of
using
it
on
gardens.
It’s
not
a
wise
idea
vaporize
the
arsenic
by
burning.
Probably
the
best
recourse
for
the
chips
and
dust
of
arsenic
treated
wood
is
to
return
it
to
the
land
via
the
landfill.
This
requires
use
all
to
use
these
materials
is
a
responsible
manner.
39
Another
application
of
old
wood
is
to
use
it
as
a
heat
source
in
our
homes.
Yes,
burning
the
wood
releases
CO2
into
the
atmosphere
but
if
the
wood
is
allowed
to
biodegrade,
the
process
of
biodegradation
also
results
in
CO2.
In
fact,
the
natural
decomposition
of
biodegradable
materials
results
in
more
CO2
production
than
humans,
and
CO2
production
is
a
natural
result
of
the
biogenic
process
(National
Solid
Wastes
Management
Association,
2005).
Left
with
ashes
from
the
burned
wood.
The
recycling
options
are
still
many
that
range
from
fertilizer,
pet
deskunker,
making
soap,
controlling
algae
and
pests,
as
just
a
few
uses
for
the
ash.
SUMMARY
OF
WOOD
Wood
is
entirely
renewable,
recyclable,
and
biodegradable.
Wood
has
a
great
resource
lifecycle.
The
subject
of
wood
takes
us
to
paper.
40
completely
Paper
and
cardboard
are
produced
from
trees.
The
history
of
paper
goes
back
to
about
8
BC
when
it
was
first
made
in
China.
The
basic
process
of
making
paper
involves
using
wood
pulp
in
a
dilute
solution
of
water.
Draining
the
water,
and
pressing
it
dry.
From
here
other
materials
become
involved
for
special
purposes
in
the
paper.
Cotton
and
textiles
such
are
linen
are
frequently
found
used
in
papers
today.
Commercial
paper
manufacturing
involves
either
a
mechanical
pulping
or
chemical
pulping
process,
revolving
screens,
gravimetric
methods,
and
vacuums.
That
is
very
abbreviated.
The
actual
process
started
by
identifying
a
section
of
trees
to
be
harvested.
This
was
done
by
a
qualified
forester.
The
lumber
company
then
removed
the
trees,
cut
them
into
sections,
loads
them
onto
logging
trucks,
and
transports
them
to
the
mill.
We
should
remember
that
logging
is
normally
found
to
be
one
of
the
most
dangerous
jobs
by
the
Department
of
Labor
with
a
high
fatality
rate
each
year.
Once
the
wood
reaches
the
mill,
the
process
can
begin.
Beginning
with
the
pulping‐
If
the
purpose
is
to
make
white
paper
for
writing,
a
mechanical
pulping
process
is
used.
In
the
mechanical
pulping
process
hydrogen
peroxide
(H2O2)
is
used;
this
is
two
hydrogen
atoms
bonded
with
two
oxygen
41
atoms.
The
hydrogen
peroxide
is
a
very
mild
acid
that
bleaches
the
paper
white
without
damaging
its
integrity.
If
the
purpose
is
to
make
brown
paper
for
paper
sack,
a
chemical
pulping
process
is
used.
There
are
different
approaches
in
the
chemical
process
which
uses
either
kraft
or
sulphate,
both
are
alkalines,
and
a
sulphite
which
is
typically
acidic.
From
the
sulphite
approach,
sulfurous
acid
and
a
sulfur
compound
which
may
be
a
combination
of
ammonium,
calcium,
sodium,
or
even
a
magnesium
bisulfate.
This
mixture
is
heated
to
about
140⁰C
about
8
hours.
In
the
kraft
sulphate
approach,
sodium
hydroxide
and
sodium
sulfate.
The
chips
are
heated
at
175⁰C
until
done.
Whether
mechanical
or
chemical,
the
processed
pulp
is
then
washed
to
remove
any
chemical
or
other
impurities.
Subsequently,
paper
mills
have
been
notorious
pollutants
of
the
environment.
They
have
made,
many
advances
in
the
technologies,
and
these
advances
will
continue,
but
eliminating
the
hazards
of
paper
production
has
not
been
completely
solved.
To
recycle
paper
it
must
first
be
collected,
transported
to
a
recycling
facility,
go
through
a
chemically
intensive
deinking
process,
and
then
added
to
the
mix
of
woodchips
to
create
the
pulp
for
the
next
batch
of
paper.
Whether
you
are
recycling,
or
creating
paper
anew,
this
process
involves
a
lot
of
chemicals,
heat,
and
waste
material
that
is
usually
burned.
While
the
resource
lifecycle
for
paper
is
high,
the
question
“to
what
expense?”
should
be
asked.
Some
argue
that
recycling
paper
uses
as
much
energy
as
harvesting
the
trees.
However,
allowing
paper
to
go
42
to
landfills
results
in
the
biodegradation
of
the
paper
which
produces
methane,
a
greenhouse
gas.
An
alternative
is
to
incinerate
the
paper
in
which
the
heat
produced
can
be
used
to
produce
energy,
and
the
carbon
dioxide
output
can
be
controlled.
Requiring
a
municipality
to
incinerate
waste
paper
would
involve
intensive
civic
involvement,
and
most
likely
an
incinerator
investment.
Once
again
critical
thinking
is
suggested.
SUMMARY
OF
PAPER
Paper,
while
it
does
have
a
high
resource
lifecycle,
the
process
of
recycling
it,
involves
nearly
as
much
energy
as
producing
the
material.
The
process
of
recycling
it,
involves
the
same
hazardous
chemicals
uses
to
create
paper
to
begin
with.
We
have
to
remember
that
paper
is
not
always
durable,
it
is
bridgeable,
it
comes
from
renewable
resources,
but
is
not
the
cleanest
product
to
recycle.
43
SMOKE
DECTECTORS
Smoke
detectors
have
a
lifespan
of
about
ten
years.
Smoke
detectors
contain
a
small
amount
of
radioactive
material
call
americium
(Am),
a
metal
which
is
whiter,
and
more
silvery
than
plutonium,
but
is
only
one
proton,
and
neutron
away
from
being
plutonium.
Americium
is
prepared
in
the
same
manner
as
plutonium.
Americium
can
be
manufactured
in
a
nuclear
reactor,
or
by
bombarding
plutonium
with
neutrons.
Needless
to
say,
this
is
a
product
that
needs
to
be
recycled.
It
does
not
need
to
be
in
our
landfills,
and
most
certainly,
incinerating
is
not
a
good
idea
either.
You
probably
won’t
find
a
recycling
center
for
smoke
detectors.
The
most
effective
way
of
recycling
this
product
is
to
remove
the
plastic
housing
of
the
smoke
detector
for
plastic
recycling,
then
mail
the
circuit
boards
with
americium
make
to
its
manufacturer.
CELL
PHONES
Don’t
throw
away
that
old
cell
phone.
You
can
drop
it
off
at
any
cell
phone
dealer.
These
cell
phones
are
refurbished,
and
given
to
people
who
are
threatened
by
domestic
abuse.
They
are
programmed
to
make
911
calls
only.
Your
old
cell
phone
may
save
a
life.
COMPUTERS
44
Some
computer
manufactures
are
now
trying
to
make
their
computers
recycle
friendly.
This
paper
does
not
endorse
one
brand,
or
another,
but
if
the
consumer
takes
the
time
to
research
the
product,
the
recyclability
of
the
product
will
be
mentioned.
45
So
spaghetti
sauce
is
on
the
shopping
list.
In
the
isle
are
found
all
the
brands
in
glass,
plastic,
and
metal
containers.
The
easiest
material
of
the
three
to
recycle
is
metal.
Metal
doesn’t
have
to
be
cleaned
the
way
other
materials
are.
Plastic
has
to
be
separated,
separated,
shredded,
and
cleaned,
before
it’s
recycled.
This
is
somewhat
an
energy
intensive
process.
Then
there
is
glass.
After
the
cleaning,
there
is
no
separation
involved,
and
glass
can
be
easily
recycled.
However,
glass
is
much
heavier
than
a
metal
sized
container
of
similar
size.
In
this
case,
the
metal
container
would
be
best
container
to
buy.
You
forgot
your
earth
friendly
shopping
bags.
The
bagger
ask
if
that
will
be
paper
or
plastic.
In
this
case,
plastic
is
easier
to
recycle,
and
uses
fewer
hazardous
chemicals.
When
we
purchased
a
product,
we
should
also
consider
the
material
that
the
container
is
made
of,
and
how
easy
that
product
can
be
recycled.
What
is
the
resource
lifecycle
of
the
product?
46
References
City
of
Raleigh.
(2008,
October
23).
LED‐Based
Streetlights
Light
Up
Areas
Around
Convention
Center.
Retrieved
March
28,
2009,
from
http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_
0_2_306_210_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/news/
public/News‐PubAff‐LED_Based_Streetlights_L‐20081023‐
11221451.html
EPA.
(2009).
Spills,
Disposal
and
Site
Cleanup.
Retrieved
March
28,
2009,
from
Mercury:
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#fluore scent
Moore,
P.
(2009).
GreenSpirit.
Retrieved
March
28,
2009,
from
http://www.greenspirit.com/
National
Electrical
Manufacturers
Association.
(2004).
HANDLING
SMALL
NUMBERS
OF
BROKEN
FLUORESCENT
LAMPS
.
NEMA.
National
Park
Service.
(2007).
Lightscape
/
Night
Sky.
Retrieved
March
28,
2009,
from
47
http://www.nps.gov/wica/naturescience/lightscape.htm
National
Solid
Wastes
Management
Association.
(2005).
Washington
D.C.
Recycling
Facts.
(2009).
Retrieved
April
2,
2009,
from
http://www.recycling‐revolution.com/recycling‐facts.htm;
48