Drinking water can come from treated sewage. Really! It’s true. Even toilet water and sewage can be refined through a process that removes contaminants like human waste, household chemicals, and industrial by-products through physical, chemical, and biological treatment so sewage can be converted back into safe drinking water.

Many places around the United States and the world have to deal with limited water supplies and increasingly large amounts of sewage. Through specific treatment processes waste water in Windhoek, Namibia, the country of Singapore, Fairfax, Virginia and Orange County, California (just to name a few locations) are already recycling sewer water. Many people are grossed out by the idea of toilet water turning into drinking water from their tap but it’s actually quite safe. According to a recent article, the Orange County Water District reports that “about 10% of household water typically comes from toilets, while the rest comes from showers, sinks and laundry machines.” So how does it work?

The Treatment Process

1. Waste water flows through sewer pipes from your home, school, or business to a Sewage Treatment Plant.
2. Solid waste is first separated from liquid waste.
3. Through a process called microfiltration, water is then filtered through a membrane with extremely small holes, hundreds of times smaller than a human hair, to trap bacteria.
4. Next, the water goes through a reverse-osmosis process where it is forced through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks salt, viruses, and pharmaceuticals.
5. The final treatment step involves high-intensity ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide process that kills all organic material.

Even portable toilet water can be treated and reclaimed using this method. So, yes, you might just be drinking portable toilet waste in your next glass of water! But don’t worry, water treated with this process is often cleaner than what can be bought as bottled water in a grocery store.

Did You Know?

• In the United States, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulates tap water with generally stricter rules than those that apply to bottled water, which is regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
• No additional federal laws apply to US recycled wastewater.
• Much of the recycled water produced around the world is used for agricultural irrigation.

Sewage Impact on Outdoor Destinations

With the growing number of people enjoying state and national parks in the United States, there has been an increase in the need to manage their waste. Utilizing technological improvements in portable toilet technology has led to new ways to both preserve natural resources and improve the experiences for the public at large. According to the Bureau of Land Management, using pack-it-out toilet systems especially those that can be cleaned and reused are ideal because they reduce environmental impact and can be used multiple times.

Some remote hiking and backpacking locations will have designated areas or structures to be used as bathrooms. Only human waste and toilet paper are allowed in these toilet systems. Using dry base ingredients such as potting soil, kitty litter, and dirt allows for the natural bacterial process to break down and decompose waste. If the correct proportions of dry base ingredients are applied, even unpleasant odors can kept away. Always make sure any backcountry toilet area is at least 100 feet from water sources and be sure to follow all posted rules for use.

When structures made of concrete are demolished or renovated, concrete recycling is an increasingly common method of utilizing the rubble. Concrete was once routinely trucked to landfills for disposal, but recycling has a number of benefits that have made it a more attractive option in this age of greater environmental awareness, more environmental laws, and the desire to keep construction costs down.

Unlike most other recycling methods, concrete uses a special heavy-duty construction bin in order to be discarded correctly. Fortunately, recycling concrete can cut down on overall costs of throwing it into a standard dumpster. Using these special dumpsters can make the process of recycling expedited, as recycling centers do not have to separate the heavy concrete. The concrete is then crushed, refined, and reprocessed.

Concrete has been known to be reused as the bottom layer of new roads, retaining walls, riprap revetments which are used to control streambank erosion, and can be recycled into new concrete for various construction projects.

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Among the most common of construction materials is drywall, which is used in most all modern construction projects. It is estimated that 40 tons of drywall, or gypsum, is thrown into a landfill every year. Gypsum is also very versatile as a recycling material and can be made into several new materials.

Drywall recycling means that waste that would otherwise have been disposed of in landfills now is being recycled and turned into a gypsum powder that the drywall manufacturers can use when making new boards. Not only does drywall recycling prevent waste from being deposited unnecessarily in landfills, to the benefit of the environment, but the recycled waste will reduce the need for manufacturers to acquire natural gypsum resources. On top of that drywall waste in landfills under certain circumstances is known to cause hydrogen sulfite gases, which potentially are lethal, and obviously by recycling drywall waste instead, such dangerous situations can be avoided.

The mineral gypsum has many uses in today’s society. In addition to the manufacture of drywall for building construction, gypsum is also widely used as a soil amendment, in the production of cement, and as an ingredient in the manufacture of many types of commercial products. Since the gypsum makes up approximately 90% of the weight of a piece of drywall, if the gypsum can be recovered from the drywall, the majority of the material can be recycled. Scrap gypsum drywall is currently being recycled in several different ways, including:

• The manufacture of new drywall
• Use as an ingredient in the production of cement
• Application to soils and crops to improve soil drainage and plant growth
• A major ingredient in the production of fertilizer products
• An additive to composting operations

Contact your local recycling center to get more information about drywall recycling including quantity limits and rules on contamination limits of drywall.

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It is becoming very common for shingles to be recycled versus being sent to a landfill. Shingle recycling is the process of taking asphalt shingles from roof tear-offs and collecting them for reuse into another product, ensuring the material does not end up in a landfill.

Shingle recycling is very cost competitive, convenient, and saves valuable resources from being sent to landfills. Recycled shingles are most commonly reused in pavement, although research is currently opening more areas for reusing shingles. Asphalt shingle recycling can also create jobs for recycling locations and reduce costs for paving.

Did you know that recycled shingles make up 5% of the asphalt used to pave roads?

Recycling shingles is not only good for the environment, it also is usually cheaper than sending it to a landfill. Whether it is necessary to separate materials is specific to each recycling center and varies from only shingles being allowed to it being acceptable to have all materials mixed together. Call ahead to your recycler before your first drop to determine what your recycling center allows. Generally, it’s like laundry – separate darks and lights. Shingles, roofing felt, and nails can be grouped together (and it is recommended to put a lumber wrap or tarp over that), and then put other jobsite debris like valley tin, cardboard, and wood on top or in front, so it’s easy to separate out from the shingle materials which can be recycled too. Nails are typically removed from the shingles using powerful magnets, so there is no need to pull them out before curbing it.

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Believe it or not, even money can be repurposed and recycled. According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, shredded currency can be obtained in small amounts as pre-packaged souvenirs and in larger quantities from the Federal Reserve Bank for commercial and artistic uses.

For decades, the Federal Reserve Bank had simply shredded and buried worn-out currency in landfills. But in the last decade many innovative uses have emerged for repurposing shredded currency as landfill space has declined and environmental concerns have increased.

Did You Know?

• US currency paper is 75 percent cotton and 25 percent linen, making it more durable than everyday wood pulp paper.
• The average $1 bill lasts 4.8 years.
• Shredded currency has been used in a variety of products including: automobile accessories, fuel pellets, packing materials, artwork, stationary, particle board, and roofing tiles.
• In 2012, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was the largest shredder of currency at 950 tons each year. This breaks down to shredding about 3 million notes per day with a face value of $49 million.

(Sources: Fox Business & NY Times)

From the beginning of the space race we have been launching objects into orbit around the earth that all have limited lifespans. Everything from satellites used for communications, mapping, weather forecasting, and GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking on earth to the booster rockets used to launch spacecraft from the hold of earth’s gravity. With all of this accumulating waste, there has not been a comprehensive plan for removing or recycling this orbiting junk.

The Space Waste Problem

According to a 2011 report from the National Research Council, “Derelict satellites, equipment and other debris orbiting Earth (aka space junk) have been accumulating for many decades and could damage or even possibly destroy satellites and human spacecraft if they collide.” Left unchecked, this problem will continue to grow as space debris collides with functioning satellites which will add to the challenge.

While some space trash falls out of orbit and incinerates during re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere, there have been many examples in recent years of these objects making impact with the ground or falling into the world’s oceans. Compounding this problem is the fact that many of these objects contain toxic or hazardous materials.

Possible Space Waste Answers

As development in commercial spaceflight and exploration shifts to the private sector, now is the time to focus on dealing with this expanding problem and to develop strategies that will support future opportunities. A perfect starting point for seeking solutions to space waste issues is the earth-bound waste management and recycling industry. Looking to industry leaders and pioneers from this arena can greatly shorten the space waste management learning curve. It also allows opportunities for creative applications of industry standards to the unique challenges operating in space will present. Building on the wealth of knowledge and years of experience found within the existing waste management and recycling industry is a smart and timely move.

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Wood waste can come from many places including scraps from home renovation projects, clearing of land after storms, as part of routine property maintenance, or from commercial and residential construction. According to the National Association of Home Builders Research Center, wood makes up approximately 40 to 50 percent of residential new construction materials waste.

Recycled Wood

Recycled, reused, and recovered wood can be used for mulch, fuel, animal beds, compost, or as part of manufactured products like particleboard. These uses can often convert disposal costs for a business into new streams of revenue.

If you find yourself with scrap wood or other recoverable building materials consider donating them to a local charity or contact your municipal waste department to see how you should properly dispose of them. Collection programs or locations can be found in many communities that convert wood waste into mulch or compost.

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According to EPA estimates there were about 290 million scrap tires generated in 2003 and at least 275 million scrap tires in stockpiles in the United States. In 1990 only 17 percent of these tires had resale markets but now 80 percent are able to be recycled or reused.

Common Uses for the 290 Million Scrap Tires include:

• 130 million (44.7%) are used as fuel
• 56 million (19.4%) are recycled or used in civil engineering projects
• 18 million (7.8%) are converted into ground rubber and recycled into products
• 12 million (4.3%) are converted into ground rubber and used in rubber-modified asphalt
• 9 million (3.1%) are exported
• 6.5 million (2.0 %) are recycled into cut/stamped/punched products
• 3 million (1.7%) are used in agricultural and miscellaneous uses

Innovative Uses for Scrap Tires

Advances in technology have created many new opportunities for repurposing scrap tires. By developing new uses for the rubber and other materials in tires, millions of tires are kept out of landfills. Below are three new uses for repurposed scrap tires.

Highway Sound Barriers: In order to reduce highway noise, many states are turning to absorptive sound barriers to deflect sound waves. One example is Northern Virginia’s “Whisper Wall” which starts as a mixture of concrete aggregate, cement, water, and small pieces of shredded rubber from scrap tires.

Athletic and Recreational Applications: Major retailers across the United States sell resilient playground rubber surfaced materials made from recycled tires. This material can absorb much of the impact from falls which provides added safety for children. It can also be used as a decorative mulch replacement.

Railroad Ties: Rubber encased railroad ties are being produced using scrap tires that have a steel beam core filled with concrete. These new railroad ties are highly durable and 200 percent stronger than creosote soaked wooden ties which results in fewer ties being needed per mile. These new ties also last between 60-90 years instead of the 5 to 30 years for wooden ones.

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With all of the different materials that go into a vehicle, it only makes sense that recycling a vehicle can have a tremendous effect on the environment. Up to 80% of a vehicle can be recycled, and most automotive industries have taken advantage of the economic benefits from recycling old cars and using the materials in producing new cars.

The recycling process goes as follows:

• Auto recyclers remove parts such as engines, transmissions, doors and bumpers for reuse in other vehicles
• Liquids such as engine oil, coolant, and gasoline are carefully managed to prevent releases by storing them in double-walled tanks and/or secondary containment prior to being reused or recycled
• Once dismantled, the vehicle is sent to a shredding facility. The metal recovered by these plants becomes raw material feedstock for steel mills, electric arc furnaces, aluminum and other non-ferrous metal smelters to manufacture a variety of products, including new vehicles.

It is estimated that through each year the automotive industry collects and reuses or recycles:

• 100.8 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel
• 24 million gallons of motor oil
• 8 million gallons of engine coolant
• 4.5 million gallons of windshield washer fluid
• 96% of all lead acid batteries

It is easy to recycle a vehicle, as many scrapyards can pick up the vehicle in a truck if it cannot run by itself. However, there are steps that will make the process go much faster.

1. Go to the Automotive Recycler’s Association website to research car recycling standards and guidelines. Junk cars can hold 5 to 10 gallons of liquid waste that is harmful to the environment. This site provides a list of current programs that will recycle your car.
2. Call a local junk yard or scrap metal yard ahead of time to inquire about whether they take or buy junk cars. Some will take them for free, while others will charge a fee.

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Clothing is a very easily recyclable resource that can be repurposed in many different ways. Currently textiles are believed to make up around 5.2% of landfills. Discarding old clothing and textiles is fast becoming the rarity, as more and more people are either donating, recycling, or even reselling them.

Donating clothing

Thrift stores are a great resource for those who want to get rid of old clothing, as well as people interested in purchasing clothes at a greatly reduced price. Most places will accept just about any clothing that has been used, either by dropping it off during business hours, or by finding a drop-off bin around town. When you donate, it can also be a write-off on your taxes by receiving a donation receipt with the total value written down. For a basic value estimate of your clothing, check the Goodwill Valuation Guide.

Recycling clothing

All clothing, no matter how worn, can be given to recycling centers for processing. It needs to be dry when it is dropped off. Textiles that are brought to recycling facilities are then sorted into color and fabric, shredded, and then repurposed for many different products including mattresses, car insulation, roofing felts, loudspeaker cones, panel linings and furniture padding.

Repurposing clothing

Textiles have a lot of uses around the house when they get old and worn. Old shirts can be ripped into sections and used as cleaning rags, which also helps cut down on paper towel consumption. Creative individuals can find ways to take old clothes and transform them into toys for kids and animals, dryer balls from old socks, even quilts made from denim squares!