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Glossary is usually defined as an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge. This knowledge base glossary provides a collection of knowledge base documents that define many technical terms. These terms are arranged alphabetically, but you can quickly jump to a specific term by selecting its first letter from the index of the knowledge base glossary below.
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27 Glossary Terms Found.
Aluminum
Aluminum – Aluminum is an alloy. It is mined in the form of bauxite ore, and comes primarily from Australia and the rain forests of South and Central America. Aluminum is used in a variety of ways, but perhaps most familiarly in the manufacture of soft drink cans. Recycling just 1 aluminum can saves the energy that it would take to operate your television set for 3 hours.

Bond Paper
Bond Paper, commonly called white office paper - A high grade of paper usually used for forms, offset printing, copy paper, stationery, etc. Highly recyclable

Cardboard OCC
Cardboard, also called OCC (old corrugated cardboard) – This includes used boxes such as heavy boxes (used in packing appliances) and sheets of corrugated board of various qualities. Does not include cereal boxes, or other non-corrugated ‘pasteboard’ known in the industry as paperboard.

Close the Loop
A term used to describe the last step in the recycling process. It refers to the point when a consumer buys a product made from recycled content materials.

Disposal Facilities
Disposal Facilities – Facilities that are either incinerators or landfills

Hauler
Hauler - An individual or company that collects and hauls materials from one place to another

HDPE
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) –This is a recyclable, non-toxic plastic used in milk, juice, water and detergent products. HDPE’s number is #2.

High Grade Paper
High Grade Paper – Relatively valuable paper such as computer paper, ledger paper and white office paper

Incinerator
Incinerator – A disposal facility that burns waste at a very high temperature. The incinerator in Indianapolis is a Waste-to-Energy facility that provides steam as an alternative form of energy for the downtown steam loop. All residential garbage is sent to the incinerator.

Landfills
Landfills – Disposal facilities where trash is buried daily.

MRF
Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) - A recycling facility that sorts and processes collected mixed recyclables into individual streams for market.

Newsprint, also called ONP
Newsprint, also called ONP (old newspaper) – Paper that is usually used in newspapers

Paperboard
Paperboard - A lightweight packaging or backing material that is made from low-grade paper fibers such as newsprint; used for cereal boxes, shoe boxes, pizza boxes, note pad backing, etc

Plastic
Plastic – A material (polymer) made from petroleum. There are many different kinds of plastic made from different combinations of compounds. Plastic containers and packaging made from various resins including PET &HDPE.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – This type of plastic resin can be recycled. The most common use is for beverage bottles. The resin number for PET is #1. Cleaned, recycled PET is in great demand for spinning fiber for carpet yarns, producing fiberfill and geo-textiles.

Recyclable
Recyclable – A term to designate that a product or its package can be recycled (may be used as a noun).

Recycle Recycling Symbol
Recycle Recycling Symbol – The three “chasing” arrows on the symbol represent the three components of the recycling process (collection, processing, purchasing of recycled content goods).

Recycled
Recycled – A term used to describe material that has been separated from the waste stream, reprocessed into a new product (often taking the place of virgin material), and then bought by the consumer as a new item.

Recycler
Recycler - an individual who sets materials aside for recycling; an individual or company that collects materials set aside for recycling; a company that remanufactures recyclables into similar or new products.

Recycling
Recycling – Term used to describe a series of activities that includes collecting materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers, and manufacturing the raw materials into new products.

Recycling Rate
Recycling Rate - A measurement to calculate the degree of success attained by a recycling program. One method is tons diverted (recycled and composted) divided by tons generated (diverted and disposed of). Also referred to as Diversion Rate

Reuse
Reuse – To find a new use for an item that has outgrown its original use; use again.

Steel
Steel – A strong durable material made of iron and carbon, and often other metals, to achieve different properties. Steel is often used as a component in cans and as a structural material in construction.

Virgin Product
Virgin Product – Term that refers to products that are made with 100 percent new raw materials and contain no recycled materials.

Waste Audit
Waste Audit – The process of identifying types and quantities of items in the waste stream. A waste audit is a major step in planning a waste management system. It helps determine if changes need to be made in purchasing supplies and it helps encourage waste reduction and recycling in daily activities.

Waste Reduction
Waste Reduction – Always the first step in becoming environmentally friendly: do not create the waste in the first place. Using ceramic mugs that can be washed and used again instead of paper cups is an example.

Waste Stream
Waste Stream – The total flow of waste materials from homes, industry and community activities. It includes things that may be recycled, reused, land filled, composted or burned in an incinerator.