Introduction to Recycling Class

INTRODUCTION TO RECYCLING
All the Basics: Terms, Concepts, Equipment, and Resources
Come to days 1&2 only, or day 3 only, or stay the whole course - one low price!

October 1-3, 2007 (Monday – Wednesday)
8:30 AM – 3:15 PM
Sanitary Fill Company (SF Recycling and Disposal, Inc.)
401 Tunnel Ave, SF (at Bayshore CALTRAIN Station)

COST: $45 for all materials (lunch not included).
**Scholarships now available for students! Contact ncra [at] ncrarecycles.org for details.**

Register Online (for either location) at http://www.ncrarecycles.org/itr/itr_SF.html

WHY THIS COURSE?
Sometimes our own recycling work is moving forward so fast that we may lack the time, skills, or appropriate context to provide needed training or orientation to newcomers or decision makers. Thus, NCRA offers this inexpensive three-day course at a convenient location to help train people who would like a quick overview of the current recycling industry and a view of its near-term future developments.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The course is designed for newcomers to the recycling field and is an ideal orientation for many people such as: entry-level program assistants, interns, professionals from other fields, members of local advisory committees, city council members and staff, members of the board of supervisors, activists, solid-waste handlers, recycling program managers and staff.

CURRICULUM:

DAYS 1 & 2

1. LEARN THE WORDS:
* Key Terms in Recycling - knowing the buzz words
* Basic issues: three Rs, the IWM hierarchy, and "to discard or to dispose?"

2. GET THE BASIC CONCEPTS IN RECYCLING
* The roles of cycles in ecosystems and closing the materials loop
* How the materials cycle got broken
* How we recognized our shortcomings
* Conceptualizing the future: hierarchy
* The failure of recycling's competitors: landfills and incinerators
* Market share of competing ventures - how fast things change
* The eight reasons we recycle
* Categorizing recyclables: the twelve master categories
* How recycling works: drop-off, buyback, curbside
* Processing mixed materials vs. source-separated recycling
* The five types of facilities that sort and process materials
* Encouraging source separation-type recycling: the four policy options
* Five meanings of "source reduction"
* Three levels/types of recycling
* Developing markets and procuring recycled products
* Forming new ventures: the six areas of activity
* Recycling's role in climate change
* Overview of commonly used equipment

DAY 3
3. CALIFORNIA'S REGULATORY CONTEXT:
What the California Integrated Waste Management Board is, how it operates, what it requires of local governments, how local public agencies stay out of trouble, the level of enforcement, managing data for reports, etc.

4. KNOW YOUR MATERIALS
Hands-on demonstrations of basic market grades of materials: metal, glass, paper, plastic, wood, etc.

5. FUTURE LEARNING: Websites and Publications.

6. INDEPENDENT LEARNING
Registrant will be advised to consult "Introduction to Recycling," which is posted on NCRA's web site, http://www.ncrarecycles.org. The majority of the presenters will be NCRA members and others working in the recycling field. Most of the classroom day will be spent listening to guest speakers and completing exercises designed to enhance the basic concepts in the field.

INSTRUCTORS
Under the general leadership of Arthur Boone, NCRA's Educational Chairperson, a series of recycling industry leaders will address specific topics.

Register Online at http://www.ncrarecycles.org/itr/itr_SF.html