Recycling in Allen

Sponsored by Keep Allen Beautiful

Lauri McIntosh Education Specialist

What is

recycling?

It’s part of the four R’s...

ReduceDon’t use more than you need.

ReuseClean it up and use it again.

RecycleTurn it into something else.

RebuyBuy new things made out of

recycled things.

Why should I recycle?

1.We don’t need to dig up lots of new metal

if we melt old metal.

2.We don’t need to find as much new oil

if we melt old plastic.

3.We don’t need to cut down as many trees if

we recycle old paper and

cardboard.

4.We don’t have to dump as much trash in the

landfill.

5. Recycling saves energy and water.

It takes lots of these to make new things in factories.

What can I recycle?

What can Allen kids recycle where they live?

Plastic

Metal

Paper and cardboard

Glass

PlasticLook for the number in the recycle symbol.

Recycle these plastic numbers…

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

• 7

Wait—what number did I miss?

6—If you live inside Allen, you can’t recycle 6 at your house.

These cups are number 6.(styrofoam)

Let’s take a test. Ready?

Number 1—Can you recycle this?

Yes!

Number 5—Can you recycle this?

Yes!

Number 4—Can you recycle this?

Yes!

Number 6—Can you recycle this?

No—not if you live inside Allen.

You did a good job on plastics! Now, let’s look at paper, metal, and glass.

Paper (and cardboard)

Can you recycle this paper and cardboard?

Yes!You can recycle lots of paper and cardboard: chipboard boxes, newspaper, school paper, and more!

Wait—can you recycle this paper and cardboard, too?

No.The sack has dog food grease on it.

The milk carton has wax on it.

Can you recycle a used pizza box?

No.It has pizza grease on it.

Metal

Aluminum Steel

Can you recycle these metals?

Yes!

You can recycle soda cans and food cans.

Wait—can you recycle these metals, too?

No. You can’t recycle pie plates

or aluminum foil

in Allen.

Glass

Can you recycle this glass?

Yes!

You can recycle jelly jars and sauce bottles.

Can you recycle this glass?

No.You can’t recycle dishes or drinking glasses.

Where do I recycle?

In Allen, you’ll put your recyclable things in a big blue cart if you live in a

house.

If you live in an apartment, you’ll put them in big green

bins.

From there, they ride in a truck to the Material

Recovery Facility (MRF) in Irving.

At the MRF, people and machines separate it into the different types of things you

can recycle.

The MRF makes big bales (blocks) of everything except glass and sends them to be

made into new things.Glass goes into a huge metal box for its trip to a glass recycler.

The MRF makes bales of paper…

Bales of plastic…

And bales of metal…

Have you ever seen a 1,200-pound bale of soda

cans?

I bet you can take one more test. Ready?

You’re doing great!

What is recycling?a. Riding your bike

again and again.

b. When you can’t use something anymore, turn it into something else.

What is one reason you should recycle things?a. Riding your bike a lot makes

you strong!

b. We don’t have to dump as much trash in a landfill.

How many of these things can you recycle in Allen?

a. Your plate

c. Your plastic water bottle with a #1 on it

b. Your dog

Thanks for learning about

recycling!