[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.17,0:00:05.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What actually happens to the stuff you put\Nin the recycling bin?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.43,0:00:07.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’ve always been curious,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.41,0:00:10.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I decided to\Ncollect the recycling from our office and
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.63,0:00:12.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bring it to a recycling plant to find out.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.06,0:00:15.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Follow me. We’re going to\Nfind out the life of our recyclables
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.96,0:00:17.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they go to a recycling plant.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.68,0:00:21.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[upbeat music]
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.56,0:00:25.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I got to Sims\Nrecycling plant in Brooklyn,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.79,0:00:28.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I found a huge warehouse
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.16,0:00:31.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where 800 tons of recyclables\Nfrom all over New York
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.56,0:00:34.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are dropped off by barge\Nand truck every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.34,0:00:36.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The plant was built in 2013,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.52,0:00:38.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it is state-of-the-art.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.44,0:00:42.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It handles materials like:\Nmetals, glass, and hard plastics.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.05,0:00:45.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And after those materials are dropped off,\Nthey’re sorted.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.66,0:00:48.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we take all of those\Nunsorted recyclables
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.15,0:00:51.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and push it through our processing\Nsystem, nearly all automatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.85,0:00:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's about two and a half miles worth\Nof conveyor belts, magnets,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.12,0:00:57.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cameras all sorts of other machines
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.87,0:01:00.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dedicated to just sorting out\Ndifferent materials.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.61,0:01:03.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The sorting machine is very high-tech
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.24,0:01:05.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and sorts 14 kinds of materials,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.80,0:01:09.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like glass, aluminum, cartons,\Nand different types of plastic.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.23,0:01:11.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once enough of a material is collected,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.38,0:01:14.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's compressed into\Na 1,000 to 1,500 pound
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.03,0:01:15.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,block called a bale.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.44,0:01:17.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After the bales are sorted, they’re sold
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.34,0:01:18.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to 3rd party companies.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.82,0:01:21.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, a bale
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.02,0:01:22.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of aluminum might sell for $800.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.11,0:01:26.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Buyers then take the raw material,\Nclean and process it,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.41,0:01:28.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and turn it into something new.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.11,0:01:30.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This process saves way more energy
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.78,0:01:32.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than mining\Nfor virgin materials.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.44,0:01:34.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With the same amount of energy it takes
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.51,0:01:36.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make a new can of aluminum,\Nyou can make
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.96,0:01:39.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,20 cans from recycled aluminum.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.95,0:01:42.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And using one ton of recycled plastic
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.31,0:01:44.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,saves 16 barrels of oil.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.70,0:01:49.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have to think about all this stuff as\Ncoming from the earth, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.16,0:01:51.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s natural resources,\Noil in all of these plastics,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.84,0:01:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and once you put it in the trash,\Nit goes to a landfill
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.70,0:01:56.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or it’s going to an incinerator.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.24,0:01:58.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You’re never going to use\Nthat material again.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.40,0:02:01.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it’s important we’ve got\Nlimited resources on this planet,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.30,0:02:03.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to use these kinds of materials
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.80,0:02:05.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as much as we can in the best\Nway as possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.22,0:02:12.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Despite the great set-up at Sims\Nthere are still a lot of issues with recycling.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.23,0:02:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First of all, Americans kind of suck at it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.28,0:02:19.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,According to the EPA, about 75% of all our\Nwaste is actually recyclable.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.78,0:02:24.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yet, our recycling rates hang around 34%,\Nnationally.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.23,0:02:27.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That basically means that only a third of\Nevery single thing we use and throw out every
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.95,0:02:29.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,day is making it to the recycling bin.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.58,0:02:35.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And don’t get me started with New Yorkers.\NWe only recycle 17% of our waste.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.90,0:02:38.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a garbage can right outside of our\Noffice and you can see there’s paper
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.53,0:02:40.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there’s some cans in there, cups.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.99,0:02:45.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of these thing are recyclable and they’re\Nin the trash, right when there’s a recycling
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.66,0:02:47.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bin right next door.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.37,0:02:51.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Only about 50% of recyclables in New\NYork City are getting recycled right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.61,0:02:55.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think that's largely a result of maybe\Na lack of public education.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.53,0:02:58.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The fact that the rules have changed over\Ntime.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.85,0:03:01.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe some people just don't care enough or\Ndon't know why they should care.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.54,0:03:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think all of those kind of issues can\Nreally be addressed through education.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.10,0:03:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For their part, Sims offers daily educational\Ntours of their plant, in an effort to boost
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.50,0:03:11.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our low recycling rates.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.19,0:03:16.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Low rates aren’t the only issue though.\NSam also told me about another problem called 'wish-cycling'.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.01,0:03:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That’s when people put trash into the recycling bin,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.54,0:03:22.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hoping it can be recycled when, in fact,\Nit can not.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.29,0:03:26.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would say it’s about 10%-13% of what we\Nget is not something we want to receive.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.62,0:03:31.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those kinds of materials are extra plastic\Nbags, plastic film, maybe little bits of food
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.55,0:03:33.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scraps mixed in with those containers.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.41,0:03:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wish-cycling wastes a lot of energy and fuel\Nbecause items are shipped to a plant like Sims
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.14,0:03:41.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sorted, and then eventually just sent\Nto the dump.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.55,0:03:45.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to see if my coworkers and I were\Nguilty of any wish-cycling
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.03,0:03:47.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I convinced Sam to go through our bag with\Nme.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.68,0:03:50.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We’re not wearing gloves because,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.02,0:03:51.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that okay with you?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.02,0:03:52.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah, we do this every day, this is fine.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.73,0:03:55.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By looking through our bag,\NI learned we made some mistakes.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.73,0:03:57.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like putting paper towels in the recycling\Nbin.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.88,0:03:59.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They’re actually compostable.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.41,0:04:03.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He also told me important tips,\Nlike cutting down on plastic straws.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.79,0:04:06.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of sort of single use disposables that\Nare really small,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.84,0:04:11.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's better to use less of these then to even\Ntry to recycle them because a lot of small
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.43,0:04:13.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plastics sort of fall through the cracks in the system.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.07,0:04:15.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Reduce.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.06,0:04:15.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Exactly.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.04,0:04:20.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sam told me that another huge misconception\Nabout recycling are plastic bags.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.11,0:04:26.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We get about 18 tons of plastic bags here\Nevery day, ideally we would be getting nothing.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.77,0:04:31.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plastic bags are a low quality kind of plastic,\Nwhich makes them really hard to resell.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.14,0:04:34.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, in SIMS case, they actually have\Nto pay another company to to come
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.99,0:04:37.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to pick up the bags and recycle them elsewhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.25,0:04:40.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On top of that, the bags get stuck in the\Nmachine and can break it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.31,0:04:43.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you want to recycle your plastic shopping\Nbags,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.40,0:04:46.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go to a plastic bag drop-off at a retailer\Nlike Whole Foods.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.17,0:04:50.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or better yet, skip the plastic bag all together\Nand bring a reusable bag.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.28,0:04:54.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s important to note that every city is\Ndifferent so look up what your city’s recycling
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.97,0:04:56.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plant accepts.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.05,0:05:00.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sims is one of the most inclusive recycling\Nplants on the East coast and accepts more
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.27,0:05:05.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,materials than many recycling plants.\NBut Sam told me to abide by the general rule,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.29,0:05:09.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'If it’s a hard plastic, put it in the\Nrecycling bin'.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.27,0:05:13.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Seeing the 800 tons of recyclables at SIMs\Nwas insane.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.24,0:05:19.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that’s nothing compared to the 12,000\Ntons of trash residents of New York City throw
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.09,0:05:20.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.29,0:05:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know seeing that made me more conscious\Nof what I use every day and inspired me to
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.00,0:05:26.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cut down on single-use plastics.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.04,0:05:30.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But let’s be real, plastic is still a part\Nof our everyday lives
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.24,0:05:32.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it’s hard to avoid it completely.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.26,0:05:36.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, I’ve realized we can have a say\Nin where it ends up,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.20,0:05:40.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and while we’re at it, help our environment and create a more\Nsustainable future.