RECYCLE THIS! A RECYCLING TRIVIA GAME TO TEST YOUR RECYCLING KNOWLEDGE

THE RULES• This is a team trivia game. The game board contains five categories of

questions with five questions for each category, with questions increasing in difficulty as the points increase.

• The first team gets to choose the category and the point possibility; after that, the winning team gets to choose the category for each subsequent question.

• Each team has a tap light. Once a question is revealed, the first team to hit the light gets a chance to answer the question.

• Anyone on the team may answer, but answering removes that team member from answering again until all team members have answered questions.

• If a team answers incorrectly, the next team in order has a chance to answer the question until each team has an opportunity.

• If a team answers a question incorrectly, that team loses the points from their total. However, a team may elect to pass without a point penalty. Each team has three passes total that may be used in competition.

APPLIANCES AND

ELECTRONICS

DO YOU ACCEPT?

RIDDLE ME THIS!

MISCELLANEOUSSTUFF

CH CH CHCHANGES

10 10 10 10 10

20 20 20 20 20

30 30 30 30 30

40 40 40 40 40

50 50 50 50 50

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS - 10

Do King County SWD transfer stations accept televisions?

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS - 10

Televisions are not accepted for disposal or recycling at any King County transfer stations.

• For recycling options: Direct customers to the KC SWD“What do I do with” website.

http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw/category.asp?CatID=8. What do I do with...Printers, Copiers, Fax Machines, Peripherals, Televisions, etc.

• The logo designates authorized E-Cycle Washington collection sites that allow residents to recycle their TVs for FREE. For information, visit www.ECycleWashington.org

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS - 20

Do King County SWD transfer stations accept printers?

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS – 20

Although printers can be recycled, they are only accepted as garbage at King County transfer stations.

• For recycling options: Direct customers to the KC SWD “What do I do with” website.

http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw/category.asp?CatID=8. What do I do with...Printers, Copiers, Fax Machines, Peripherals, etc.

• The logo designates authorized E-Cycle Washington collection sites that allow residents to recycle their printers for FREE. For information, visit www.ECycleWashington.org

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS - 30

Do King County SWD transfer stations accept microwave ovens?

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS – 30

Microwaves are not accepted for recycling, but they can be disposed as garbage at transfer stations.

• For recycling options: Direct customers to the KC SWD “What do I do with” website. http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw/index.asp. What do I do with...Microwaves

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS - 40

Do King County SWD transfer stations accept dishwashers made primarily of plastic?

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS – 40

Dishwashers that are primarily made of plastic materials are accepted as garbage and the customer is charged the garbage disposal rate.

• Dishwashers that are NOT primarily made of plastic materials will continue to be accepted as a non-refrigerant type appliance and charged the $10 fee at all stations that accept appliances for recycling, including Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Shoreline, and Vashon.

• TSO’s will place dishwashers primarily made of metal into the scrap metal recycling container.

• SWD facilities that do not accept appliances for recycling (including Algona, Cedar Falls, Factoria, Houghton, and Renton) will continue to ban disposal of all major appliances (both refrigerant and non-refrigerant types) -- and will direct customers to transfer stations that accept appliances for recycling or to companies that recycle appliances.

• See the King County SWD “Guide to Recycling Major Appliances in King County.”

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS - 50

Why is a $30 recycling charge assessed for refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners?

APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS – 50

The $30 fee charged for recycling refrigerant-type appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners is used to pay a certified vendor to safely remove and dispose of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other types of refrigerants from those appliances. The vendor certifies that all refrigerants have been properly removed.

• Refrigerants are regulated under the federal Clean Air Act. Recycling these appliances helps ensure that refrigerants are safely removed and are not released into the atmosphere.

• Customers should not remove refrigerant from their refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and other refrigerant-type appliances, but instead should leave that to trained and certified processors.

• If a customer tells us that they have removed the refrigerant from a refrigerant-type appliance and ask to only be charged $10, explain that we still must send all refrigerant-type appliances to a certified vendor and therefore must charge $30 for each refrigerant-type appliance.

• We only charge a $10 fee for recycling non-refrigerant type appliances (such as dishwashers and washing machines) because we do not need to send those appliances to a certified vendor to have the refrigerants removed. The $10 fee helps cover our costs of handling these heavy, bulky materials.

DO YOU ACCEPT? - 10

Are books accepted for recycling at King County SWD transfer stations?

DO YOU ACCEPT? – 10

Yes! Paperback books, telephone books, and hard cover books can be placed in the commingled recycling bins.

• Waste prevention is best! Encourage customers to take old paperback and hard back books that are in decent condition to libraries, schools, used bookstores, and Good Will.

• For recycling and reuse options, direct customers to the KC SWD “What do I do with” website: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw/material.asp – Books.

DO YOU ACCEPT? - 20

Can paper cups and plastic cups (empty and clean) be placed in commingled recycling bins at King County SWD transfer stations?

DO YOU ACCEPT? – 20

Yes! We now accept paper and plastic cups (empty and clean) in the commingled recycling bins.

• Other materials that we now accept (starting in 2014) are

- Plastic pots (small plant pots from garden stores)

- Plastic clamshells

- Plastic trays

- Plastic pill bottles (but no prescription vials or bottles)

- Large lids (3 inches or more in diameter)

DO YOU ACCEPT? - 30

Are items primarily made of metal (such as a metal chair with a plastic seat and back) accepted for recycling (with scrap metals) at King County SWD transfer stations?

DO YOU ACCEPT? – 30

Yes! If an item is primarily made of metal (50 percent or more), then it can be placed in the scrap metal recycling bin (at transfer stations that offer scrap metal recycling).

DO YOU ACCEPT? - 40

Are decking materials made from recycled plastic (such as Trex®) accepted for recycling at King County SWD transfer stations?

DO YOU ACCEPT? – 40

No. Decking materials made from recycled plastic (such as Trex®) cannot be recycled at King County transfer stations.

DO YOU ACCEPT? - 50

When it comes to recycling, what do grass, leaves, and wax coated cardboard have in common?

DO YOU ACCEPT? – 50

All three materials – grass, leaves, and wax coated cardboard -- can be composted, and thus can be placed with yard waste at transfer stations that offer yard waste recycling.

• Grass, leaves, and wax coated cardboard can be used to make compost, a soil amendment that enriches soil and improves plant health.

• Wax coated cardboard (such as those used for shipping produce at grocery stores) cannot be recycled along with other cardboard.

• If your transfer station offers yard waste recycling, then wax coated cardboard can be added to the yard waste. If no yard waste is available and the box cannot be reused, it should be placed in the garbage.

RIDDLE ME THIS - 10

Do broken glass bottles and jars get recycled?

RIDDLE ME THIS – 10

Yes! Some bottles and jars get broken, but ultimately the glass is crushed before it is recycled into new products.

• Color sorted crushed glass – called cullet in the recycling industry – is melted and re-formed into new bottles and jars. Glass can be recycled indefinitely with no loss in quality or purity.

• Recycled crushed glass that is not sorted by color is used in construction and road projects, and can be used as a substitute for sand in filtration projects.

• Making new glass containers from recycled glass bottles and jars saves energy because recycled glass is processed at a lower temperature than glass made from raw materials.

RIDDLE ME THIS - 20

Why should transfer station customers separate their recyclable materials from their garbage?

RIDDLE ME THIS – 20

There are two reasons:

(1) To save money (now and in the future).

-Save money now:

• Many recyclable materials are accepted at no charge at most of our transfer stations.

• Other materials (including yard waste and appliances) are accepted at a reduced rate (lower than the garbage disposal rate).

-Save money in the future:

• As we recycle more, the life of our landfill will be extended – and that will save ratepayers money in the long run.

(2) To do their part to help conserve natural resources.

• Recycling conserves energy, water, and natural resources such as trees and oil.

• Example: Each ton (2,000 pounds) of recycled paper conserves 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water.

RIDDLE ME THIS - 30

What advantage do customers realize by not receiving payment for scrap metals?

RIDDLE ME THIS – 30

By not paying customers for their scrap metals, we are able to accept many different materials for recycling.

• Not all recyclable materials generate revenue for the SWD. And the revenue that the SWD receives for scrap metals only partially offsets the cost to transport and process all the recyclable materials accepted at King County transfer stations.

• The more we recycle, the longer our landfill will be in operation – and lengthening the life of our landfill will save ratepayers money in the long run.

RIDDLE ME THIS - 40

What recycling practice increases recycling participation and decreases King County SWDtransfer station costs?

RIDDLE ME THIS – 40

Commingling of recyclable materials.

• Commingling (combining recyclable materials in the same recycling bin) increases recycling participation by residents and businesses.

• Commingling decreases KC SWD costs by lowering the number of recycling bins maintained in inventory and reducing the number of partially filled containers that are hauled to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF).

RIDDLE ME THIS - 50

In our commingled recycling bins, what percentage of contamination – including garbage and recyclable materials that we do not accept – is permitted (according to our contract with Republic Services, our hauler/processor)?

RIDDLE ME THIS – 50

Up to 10 percent.

• According to our contract with Republic Services (which hauls and processes our commingled recyclable materials), extra charges will NOT be assessed to the SWD if contamination is 10 percent or less.

• We should definitely continue to kindly inform customers about which recyclable materials are accepted and which are not. But there’s no reason to get upset or angry when customers place unacceptable items (such as small lids or plastic utensils) in the commingled recycling bin.

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF - 10

What rate is applied to a mixed load of garbage and recyclable materials?

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF – 10

The garbage disposal rate is applied for a mixed, unseparated load of garbage and recyclable materials.

• There is no way for transfer station staff to know what percentage of a mixed load is comprised of garbage and what percentage is comprised of recyclable materials.

• However, customers who keep their recyclable materials separate from their garbage may place recyclable materials (such as paper, bottles, cans, cardboard, scrap metals, clean wood) free of charge into recycling containers at our transfer stations -- and then re-weigh and be charged only for the material disposed of as garbage.

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF - 20

All recyclable material should be placed loose (not in bags or boxes) in recycling bins except for what material?

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF – 20

With the exception of clear plastic bags that contain shredded paper, all recyclable materials must be placed loose (not in bags or boxes) in the recycling bins.

• Plastic bags get caught in sorting equipment at Material Recovery Facilities and cause expensive repairs and delays.

• All KC SWD transfer stations except Algona and Factoria will accept shredded paper if the shredded paper is contained in clear plastic bags. Clear plastic bags of shredded paper should be placed in the commingled recycling bin.

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF - 30

Why are the slots on the recycling bins so high off the ground and why are the openings so small?

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF – 30

The recycling bins are designed to collect and transport recyclable materials in a safe and efficient manner. The size and height of the slots discourage contamination with garbage and allow for the maximum amount of material to be collected in one bin. Lidded containers help to reduce litter and site cleanup.

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF - 40

What should we tell customers when they ask about the recycling symbols and numbers on plastic materials – and want to know which “numbers” we accept?

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF – 40

Explain to customers that the following SHAPES (or types) of plastic materials are accepted at in our commingled recycling bins, and that they should ignore the numbers on the plastic materials.

• (The numbers were placed on plastic containers to help the recycling material processing facilities. And not everything with the recycling symbol or everything with the words “Recyclable” has a recycling market in this area.)

• We accept the following types of plastic if they are clean and free of food.

- Bottles

- Clamshells

- Cups

- Jugs

- Pill bottles (but no prescription vials/bottles)

- Pots (small plant pots from garden stores)

- Tubs (food containers for butter, cottage cheese)

- Trays

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF - 50

What is one environmental program provided by King County SWD that may be useful to our transfer station customers in their homes, businesses, and schools?

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF – 50

There are many programs! Here are several: Recycle More; Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling; School education and assistance programs; Food: Too Good to Waste

• Our Recycle More program provides information to King County residents about recycling. Check out the website, which includes information about curbside collection: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/recycle-more.asp

• Each spring, businesses in King County outside the City of Seattle are invited to apply for recognition as a Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling. For information, visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/best-workplaces.asp

• Our School Education Program provides an elementary school assembly about waste reduction and recycling, and classroom workshops for students in grades 1 – 12. Our King County Green Schools Program provides assistance and recognition to schools and school districts to help them reduce waste, recycle, and engage in other conservation practices such as energy and water conservation. For information, visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/education/index.asp

• Our Food: Too Good to Waste program educates residents and businesses on how disposal of edible food affects the environment and how to prevent or reduce food waste. For information, visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wasteprevention/too-good-to-waste.asp

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES - 10

What initiative started in Shoreline in April of 2014, reached Enumclaw in October 2014, and will be expanding to Bow Lake in 2015?

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES – 10

Resource Recovery pilot project

• In October 2014, the Resource Recovery pilot project expanded to Enumclaw Recycling & Transfer Station with an emphasis on customer engagement, which is a key to its success.

• To actively involve self-haulers in recycling, signs were posted throughout the station encouraging customers to “Sort it Out” by placing cardboard, clean wood, and scrap metals in the proper recycling bins near the tipping floor. The recycling bins are color-coded – green for cardboard, blue for scrap metals, and orange for clean wood. Customers can help sort those recyclable materials instead of dumping them directly onto the tipping floor.

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES - 20

What materials will the Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Shoreline, and Vashon recycling and transfer stations start to accept for recycling in 2015?

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES – 20

Some transfer stations (Bow Lake, Enumclaw, Shoreline, and Vashon) are planning to accept Styrofoam and plastic film for recycling.

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES - 30

Why are five King County SWDfacilities now accepting mercury-containing bulbs and tubes at no charge to the customer?

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES – 30

Thanks to a new statewide product stewardship law that went into effect on Jan. 1, mercury-containing light bulbs and tubes are now accepted for no charge at the county’s Bow Lake, Enumclaw, and Vashon recycling and transfer stations. Factoria’s HHW facility will continue to accept fluorescent bulbs and tubes and other mercury-containing lights at no charge. And the existing mercury-containing light bulb and tube recycling collection service at Shoreline has changed from a paid drop-off service to a no-charge service.

• Learn about the different types of bulbs and tubes accepted at these five KC SWD facilities.

• Product stewardship programs place more responsibility on manufacturers to design products that can be disassembled for recycling, are less toxic, and can be collected and managed in a way that conserves valuable resources.

• Visit LightRecycle Washington to learn more about this product stewardship program. The program requires lighting manufacturers to create a statewide program for collecting and recycling mercury-containing light bulbs. The program is funded through an environmental handling charge that is added to the retail price of lights containing mercury.

• See the Take it Back Network for additional recycling options.

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES - 40

What is King County’s current recycling rate, and what is the County’s recycling goal?

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES – 40

King County currently recycles about 50 percent of its solid waste. The County’s goal is to recycle 70 percent of its total solid waste.

• Recycling at our transfer stations is critical to reaching this goal.

• In 2013, approximately 9,500 tons of recyclable materials were collected at King County recycling and transfer stations. To reach a recycling rate of 70 percent, our transfer stations will need to recycle more!

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES - 50

What specific changes in customer service can you make to help our self-haul customers recycle more at our transfer stations?

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES – 50

(Anything they’ve learned at the training today!)