What you can recycle. The Answers

At Penn State, we already divert 56 percent of our waste from our landfill. These 9,853 tons are composted or recycled into new, useful products which saves energy, water, and reduces pollution. Every aluminum can that we recycle saves enough electricity to power a television for 3 hours.

We're at 56 percent now, but with your help, we can reach 85 percent. The first step is to find out what information you need to be a pro-recycler. Answer the following questions and find out where you need some help to be on your way. You will find the answers at the end.

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* 1. How knowledgeable do you feel about what you can recycle at Penn State?

Very knowledgeable

Knowledgeable

Somewhat knowledgeable

Not at all knowledgeable

Very knowledgeable

Knowledgeable

Somewhat knowledgeable

Not at all knowledgeable

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* 2. Each building has a few waste sorting stations with 7 bins. The bins are labeled as follows and should be in the order, from left to right: Organic Waste/Compost, Trash (Landfill), Mixed Paper & Newspaper, Metal, Glass, Plastic Bottles/Jugs/Jars and Miscellaneous Plastics. Please match the waste below with the appropriate bin?

	Compost	Trash	Paper/Newsp.	Metal	Glass	Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Miscellaneous Plastics
Chicken Leg	Chicken Leg Compost	Chicken Leg Trash	Chicken Leg Paper/Newsp.	Chicken Leg Metal	Chicken Leg Glass	Chicken Leg Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Chicken Leg Miscellaneous Plastics
Chip bag	Chip bag Compost	Chip bag Trash	Chip bag Paper/Newsp.	Chip bag Metal	Chip bag Glass	Chip bag Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Chip bag Miscellaneous Plastics
Pencil stub	Pencil stub Compost	Pencil stub Trash	Pencil stub Paper/Newsp.	Pencil stub Metal	Pencil stub Glass	Pencil stub Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Pencil stub Miscellaneous Plastics
Plastic grocery bag	Plastic grocery bag Compost	Plastic grocery bag Trash	Plastic grocery bag Paper/Newsp.	Plastic grocery bag Metal	Plastic grocery bag Glass	Plastic grocery bag Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Plastic grocery bag Miscellaneous Plastics
Styrofoam carryout container	Styrofoam carryout container Compost	Styrofoam carryout container Trash	Styrofoam carryout container Paper/Newsp.	Styrofoam carryout container Metal	Styrofoam carryout container Glass	Styrofoam carryout container Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Styrofoam carryout container Miscellaneous Plastics
Empty Ginger Ale can	Empty Ginger Ale can Compost	Empty Ginger Ale can Trash	Empty Ginger Ale can Paper/Newsp.	Empty Ginger Ale can Metal	Empty Ginger Ale can Glass	Empty Ginger Ale can Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Empty Ginger Ale can Miscellaneous Plastics
Clean zip lock bag	Clean zip lock bag Compost	Clean zip lock bag Trash	Clean zip lock bag Paper/Newsp.	Clean zip lock bag Metal	Clean zip lock bag Glass	Clean zip lock bag Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Clean zip lock bag Miscellaneous Plastics
Plastic Pepsi bottle	Plastic Pepsi bottle Compost	Plastic Pepsi bottle Trash	Plastic Pepsi bottle Paper/Newsp.	Plastic Pepsi bottle Metal	Plastic Pepsi bottle Glass	Plastic Pepsi bottle Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Plastic Pepsi bottle Miscellaneous Plastics
Soup can	Soup can Compost	Soup can Trash	Soup can Paper/Newsp.	Soup can Metal	Soup can Glass	Soup can Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Soup can Miscellaneous Plastics
Candy bar wrapper	Candy bar wrapper Compost	Candy bar wrapper Trash	Candy bar wrapper Paper/Newsp.	Candy bar wrapper Metal	Candy bar wrapper Glass	Candy bar wrapper Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Candy bar wrapper Miscellaneous Plastics
Single-use coffee cup	Single-use coffee cup Compost	Single-use coffee cup Trash	Single-use coffee cup Paper/Newsp.	Single-use coffee cup Metal	Single-use coffee cup Glass	Single-use coffee cup Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Single-use coffee cup Miscellaneous Plastics
Clean syran wrap	Clean syran wrap Compost	Clean syran wrap Trash	Clean syran wrap Paper/Newsp.	Clean syran wrap Metal	Clean syran wrap Glass	Clean syran wrap Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Clean syran wrap Miscellaneous Plastics
Phone book	Phone book Compost	Phone book Trash	Phone book Paper/Newsp.	Phone book Metal	Phone book Glass	Phone book Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Phone book Miscellaneous Plastics
Pizza box	Pizza box Compost	Pizza box Trash	Pizza box Paper/Newsp.	Pizza box Metal	Pizza box Glass	Pizza box Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Pizza box Miscellaneous Plastics
Collegian	Collegian Compost	Collegian Trash	Collegian Paper/Newsp.	Collegian Metal	Collegian Glass	Collegian Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Collegian Miscellaneous Plastics
Softback book	Softback book Compost	Softback book Trash	Softback book Paper/Newsp.	Softback book Metal	Softback book Glass	Softback book Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Softback book Miscellaneous Plastics
Half-empty soda bottle	Half-empty soda bottle Compost	Half-empty soda bottle Trash	Half-empty soda bottle Paper/Newsp.	Half-empty soda bottle Metal	Half-empty soda bottle Glass	Half-empty soda bottle Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Half-empty soda bottle Miscellaneous Plastics

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* 3. What should you do if you have a cardboard box that you want to discard?

Put it in the Mixed Office Paper & Newspaper bin

Put it in the trash bin

Break it down and put it beside the sorting station

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* 4. Which of the following should NOT be placed in the compost bin? (You may choose more than one answer)

Leftover barbeque

Apple core

Gum

Paper with spilled coffee on it

Paper plate with half eaten sandwich

Tea bag

Coffee grinds

Milk jug

Used tissue

Hard boiled egg

Post-it Notes

Pepsi soda cup

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* 5. Penn State aims to be a leader in sustainability. Proper recycling can assure the greatest amount of material can be recycled. Each sorting station has two bins for plastic. Waste should be sorted by shape. Plastic containers that have a smaller neck than base should be placed in the bin labeled plastic bottles, jugs and jars. Plastic containers that have a base wider than the neck, such as a yogurt container, should be put in the bin labeled Miscellaneous plastics. Miscellaneous plastics are not currently being recycled due to a limited market in central PA, but it is important to practice proper sorting for future changes in the markets. Plastics that are stretchy, such as plastic bags are no longer accepted for recycling in our campus system. However, you can take clean ones to any area grocery store. Test yourself by assigning the products below to the correct bin.

	Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Miscellaneous Plastic	Landfill
Milk jug	Milk jug Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Milk jug Miscellaneous Plastic	Milk jug Landfill
Bubble wrap	Bubble wrap Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Bubble wrap Miscellaneous Plastic	Bubble wrap Landfill
yogurt cup (empty and free of food remnants)	yogurt cup (empty and free of food remnants) Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	yogurt cup (empty and free of food remnants) Miscellaneous Plastic	yogurt cup (empty and free of food remnants) Landfill
Frozen meal container	Frozen meal container Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Frozen meal container Miscellaneous Plastic	Frozen meal container Landfill
Tupperware food storage container	Tupperware food storage container Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Tupperware food storage container Miscellaneous Plastic	Tupperware food storage container Landfill
Hard water bottle	Hard water bottle Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Hard water bottle Miscellaneous Plastic	Hard water bottle Landfill
Plastic forks	Plastic forks Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Plastic forks Miscellaneous Plastic	Plastic forks Landfill
Solo plastic cups	Solo plastic cups Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Solo plastic cups Miscellaneous Plastic	Solo plastic cups Landfill
Ink pens, highlighters and markers	Ink pens, highlighters and markers Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Ink pens, highlighters and markers Miscellaneous Plastic	Ink pens, highlighters and markers Landfill
Margarine Tub	Margarine Tub Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Margarine Tub Miscellaneous Plastic	Margarine Tub Landfill
Plastic coffee stirrers	Plastic coffee stirrers Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Plastic coffee stirrers Miscellaneous Plastic	Plastic coffee stirrers Landfill
Butter tub lid	Butter tub lid Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars	Butter tub lid Miscellaneous Plastic	Butter tub lid Landfill