Definitions of Terms
RECYCLING: IS DEFINED AS “THE MEANS OF SEPARATING, COLLECTING,
PROCESSING, MARKETING, AND ULTIMATELY USING A MATERIAL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THROWN AWAY” (WWW.CARE2.COM).
REDUCTION: IS DEFINED AS “CONSUMING AND THROWING AWAY
LESS INCLUDING PURCHASING DURABLE, LONG-LASTING GOODS AND SEEKING PRODUCTS AND
PACKAGING THAT ARE AS FREE OF TOXICS AS POSSIBLE” (WWW.EPA.GOV).
REUSE: IS DEFINED AS “USING A PRODUCT MORE THAN
ONCE, EITHER FOR THE SAME PURPOSE OR FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE” (www.epa.gov).
PRE-CONSUMER: THE MATERIAL LEFT OVER AFTER A MANUFACTURER
TAKES OUT THE NECESSARY MOLDS IT NEEDS TO MAKE A PRODUCT
POST-CONSUMER: THE MATERIAL THAT IS TAKEN FROM OLD PRODUCTS
AND MADE INTO NEW PRODUCTS
OTHER USEFUL DEFINITIONS
ONP—OLD NEWSPAPERS
OCC—OLD CORRUGATED CONTAINERS
(CARDBOARD)
HDPE—HIGH
DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (MILK JUGS, DETERGENT BOTTLES, ETC.)
PETE—POLYETHYLENE
TERAPHTHALATE (SODA, WATER, JUICE BOTTLES, ETC.)