Treasure Coast Trivia: Recycling IQ
- Inside Track Almanac
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Do you know what an MRF is? Are you "wish cycling?" Test your knowledge about the state of recycling on the Treasure Coast. You might find there is always room for improvement!
The term “MRF” pronounced MERF, stands for:
A) Material Reclamation Facility
B) Material Recovery Facility
C) Material Recycling Facility
D) Material Recollection Facility
The answer is B
Recyclables are sent to processing facilities known as Material Recovery Facilities. These are not to be confused with collection facilities such as convenience centers at local landfills. MRFs are where your recyclables are eventually sent for processing which includes sorting, decontaminating, bailing and sale to vendors.
Single Stream Recycling is also known as:
A) Curbside Recycling
B) Cart Recycling
C) Mixed Recycling
D) Residential Recycling
The answer is C
Single stream recycling is a catch-all term that means acceptable recyclables can be "mixed" in the same cart or receptacle, avoiding the need for separating things like cardboard, paper, plastic and aluminum. The concept was filled with good intentions. Mixed recycling was meant to encourage more recycling but the anticipated benefit falls short in many ways. The convenience of being able to throw everything into the same receptacle has led to an obvious lack of thought and care about what kinds of materials we are discarding. Nowhere is this more evident than at a MRF, where contamination is a constant challenge to production and has actually reduced the overall output of viable recyclables.
Locally, recycled glass is used to make new glass containers.
A) True
B) False
The answer is B
Technically, glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality but not all MRFs have that capability. Locally, glass containers and bottles are ground up (see video above) and used as stabilizing layers in the landfills. In some places, crushed glass is also used as construction aggregate
There is only one public MRF serving the Treasure Coast.
A) True
B) False
The answer is A
Although there are several convenience centers along the Treasure Coast where people can drop off recyclables, those materials are all taken to the same facility. The MRF, located at 3120 Glades Cut-Off Road in Fort Pierce processes all recycling from the counties of Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River as well as the city of Palm Bay.
“Wish Cycling” can result in:
A) Cross contamination
B) Fires
C) Reduced production
D) All of the above
The answer is D
Far too often we toss items into the recycling bin hoping they’re recyclable—even if we’re not sure. While well-intentioned, this habit does more harm than good. Non-recyclable items, like greasy pizza boxes, plastic garbage and grocery bags, and broken or dirty glassware can contaminate entire batches of recycling, making them unusable and sending them straight to the landfill. Items like garden hoses and electrical cords tangle and often damage machinery. Electronics containing lithium ion batteries or the batteries themselves can explode and start fires when crushed.
Which of the following items are not accepted in curbside recycling on the Treasure Coast?
A) Plastic Bottles
B) Pizza Boxes
C) Aluminum Cans
D) Newspaper
The answer is B
Pizza boxes continue to be a significant source of contamination for Treasure Coast recycling. While other facilities in Florida have begun accepting them, we are not there yet, which is why it is important to stay informed about the rules where you live. An interesting example of this is the polystyrene cup in the photo above. The MRF on the Treasure Coast does have the capability of processing polystyrene but it cannot be placed in curbside mixed recycling. It must be taken to a convenience center for collection first.
The same goes for plastic wrapping. Currently our area only accepts plastic wrap at specified locations or through a collection process that only serves businesses, not residential.
Plastic grocery bags can be recycled.
A) True
B) False
The answer is A
But again, not through curbside recycling. Most grocery stores, including all Publix stores on the Treasure Coast have receptacles for grocery bags. Some even take polystyrene as well as paper products. Once collected, the bags are bundled and sent to specialized facilities where they’re cleaned and sorted. These facilities are equipped to handle thin plastic films, which traditional recycling centers are not.
The Port St. Lucie MRF takes an average of _____ of refuse daily.
A) Two tons
B) 250 tons
C) 25 tons
D) 500 tons
The answer is B
Of the 250 tons of materials the MRF in St. Lucie County receives on a daily basis, it processes between 150 and 200 tons per operational day. Do you see the math problem yet?
Which of the following recyclable materials has the highest demand?
A) Steel
B) Aluminum
C) PET Plastic
D) Newspaper
The answer is B (but also A)
Technically speaking, steel is in high demand and has the highest economic value in terms of recycled materials. But in the world of residential recycling, aluminum is the most commonly recyclable material. Aluminum cans are 100% recyclable and can be reprocessed repeatedly. In terms of energy production, recycling aluminum is far superior to mining and processing it. Recycling aluminum cans uses 95% less energy than producing new cans. Because of this, aluminum cans are considered one of the most valuable recycled items.
Paper towels can be recycled.
A) True
B) False
The answer is B
Paper towels, used or unused are not suitable for recycling. They are made from short fibers that have already been recycled multiple times. In the process, many different toxins and chemicals, including bleaches, resins and glues are used to manufacture paper towels. By the time they become a soft, absorbent towel, the fibers are too broken down to be reused into new paper products, even if they are unused.
Polystyrene is recycled at the Port St. Lucie MRF
A) True
B) False
The answer is A
If you were paying attention earlier in this quiz, you know that the local MRF is indeed capable of recycling polystyrene, though not through curbside recycling. Many grocery stores as well as local convenience centers accept certain types of polystyrene (Styrofoam).
You can also take it directly to the MRF, which processes the material there and sells it to a company that uses it to manufacture picture frames!
