Capture rate:
This is the percentage of a recyclable material collected (placed aside for recycling), out of the total amount of that particular material generated. The capture rate is an excellent indicator of how well a building’s recycling program is working.
Capture rate = Total recycling /Total recycling + Recycling in waste*100
Cart (as it relates to waste):
A bin with wheels usually made out of plastic for storing materials.
Contamination:
When non- recyclables are mixed with materials in a recycling stream.
Contamination rate:
The percentage of material in a recycling bin that ‘normally’ shouldn’t be there as that material is not acceptable in that program. A high contamination rate means all the materials in that particular recycling bin could be deemed ‘not recyclable’. A high level of contamination makes processing of materials difficult. Hence such materials are re-channeled for disposal.
Diversion:
A system of redirecting materials from landfill by reusing, recycling or recovery.
Diversion Rate:
An expression of how much waste is actually prevented from ending up in landfill is referred to as Diversion rate.
Diversion rate = Total recycling/Total recycling +Total waste*100
Material Destination:
A place(s) where materials are transported. A destination can be a transfer station, a sorting facility (material recovery facility), a factory for processing materials or a landfill site.
Landfill:
A site for solid waste disposal whereby waste is buried in layers and covered by soil.
Non-recyclable materials:
Materials that are deemed ‘not recyclable’ such as soiled paper towels, broken rubber bands.
Recycling:
This is a process whereby waste materials are converted new materials. Materials that would have been discarded as waste are processed into new products.
Recycling stream:
Materials that are placed aside for recycling. These include recyclable materials such as paper, cans/glass/plastic, cardboard. Depending on the program(s) available organics, scrap metal, electronic waste and other recyclables may also be collected.
3Rs:
A term that denotes Reduce Reuse Recycle. Commonly referred to as the 3Rs.
Regulation:
A law or rule made by an authority.
Waste:
Materials including recyclables and trash generated as a result of different activities.
Waste to Energy: is one of the processes of diverting non-recyclable waste from landfill. This involves conversion of waste to energy usually in the form of electricity, heat and fuel.
