[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:02.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,♪ (music) ♪
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.17,0:00:05.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What actually happens to the stuff\Nyou put in 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 collect\Nthe recycling from our office
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.63,0:00:13.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and bring it to a recycling plant\Nto find out.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.06,0:00:15.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Follow me, we’re going to find out\Nthe life of our recyclables
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.96,0:00:17.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they go to a recycling plant.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.68,0:00:23.56,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 recycling plant\Nin 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: 0,0:00:36.52,0:00:38.44,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: 0,0:00:45.66,0:00:48.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we take all of those\Nunsorted recyclables
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.26,0:00:51.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and push it through our processing\Nsystem, which is almost all automatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.85,0:00:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's about two and a half miles\Nworth of conveyor belts, magnets,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.12,0:00:57.87,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: 0,0:01:03.13,0:01:05.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and sorts 14 kinds of materials,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.80,0:01:09.23,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\Ninto a 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: 0,0:01:15.44,0:01:18.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After the bales are sorted,\Nthey’re sold to 3rd party companies.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.82,0:01:23.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, a bale of aluminum\Nmight sell for $800.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.11,0:01:26.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Buyers then take that 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: 0,0:01:28.11,0:01:32.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This process saves way more energy\Nthan mining for virgin materials.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.44,0:01:36.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With the same amount of energy\Nit takes to make one can of new aluminum
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.21,0:01:39.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can make 20 cans\Nfrom recycled aluminum.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.95,0:01:44.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And using one ton of recycled plastic\Nsaves 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\Nas coming 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's going 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\Nin the best way as possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.94,0:02:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,♪ (upbeat music) ♪
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.22,0:02:12.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Despite the great set-up at Sims,\Nthere are a lot of issues with recycling.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.23,0:02:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First of all,\NAmericans kind of suck at it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.28,0:02:20.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,According to the EPA, about 75%\Nof all our waste is actually recyclable,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.25,0:02:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yet our recycling rates\Nhang around 34%, nationally.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.10,0:02:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That basically means that only a third\Nof every single thing we use
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.24,0:02:30.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and throw out every day\Nis making it to the recycling bin.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.26,0:02:32.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And don’t get me started with New Yorkers.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.31,0:02:35.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We only recycle 17% of our waste.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.85,0:02:37.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a garbage can\Noutside of our office
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.91,0:02:41.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can see there’s paper\Nand there’s some cans in there, cups.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.50,0:02:44.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of these thing are recyclable\Nand they’re in the trash,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.61,0:02:47.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,right when there’s a recycling bin\Nright next door.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.27,0:02:49.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Only about 50% of recyclables\Nin New York City
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.52,0:02:51.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are getting recycled right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.36,0:02:55.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think that's largely a result\Nof maybe a lack of public education.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.44,0:02:57.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The fact that the rules\Nhave changed over time.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.56,0:03:01.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe some people don't care enough\Nor don't know why they should.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.78,0:03:05.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think those kind of issues\Ncan be addressed through education.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.08,0:03:08.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For their part, Sims offers\Ndaily educational tours of their plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.48,0:03:11.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in an effort to boost\Nour low-recycling rates.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.14,0:03:13.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Low rates aren’t the only issue, though.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.10,0:03:16.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sam also told me about another\Nproblem called {\i1}wish-cycling{\i0}.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.35,0:03:18.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That’s when people put trash\Ninto the recycling bin,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.85,0:03:22.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hoping it can be recycled\Nwhen, in fact, it can not.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.29,0:03:24.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would say it’s about\N10% to13% of what we get
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.100,0:03:26.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not something we want to receive.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.76,0:03:29.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those kinds of materials\Nare extra plastic bags,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.32,0:03:32.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plastic film,\Nmaybe little bits of food scraps
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.11,0:03:33.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mixed in those containers.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.40,0:03:36.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wish-cycling wastes\Na lot of energy and fuel
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.13,0:03:38.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because items are shipped\Nto a plant like Sims,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.32,0:03:41.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sorted, and then eventually\Njust sent to the dump.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.47,0:03:45.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to see if my coworkers and I\Nwere guilty of any wish-cycling,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.03,0:03:47.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I convinced Sam\Nto go through our bag with me.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.68,0:03:49.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We’re not wearing gloves because--
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.90,0:03:52.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- Is that okay with you?\N- We do this every day, this is fine.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.80,0:03:55.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By looking through our bag,\NI learned we made some mistakes.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.73,0:03:57.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like putting paper towels\Nin the recycling bin.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.93,0:03:59.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They’re actually compostable.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.64,0:04:03.79,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\Nthat are really small,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.84,0:04:09.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's better to use less of these\Nthen to even try to recycle them
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.99,0:04:14.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because a lot of small plastics\Nfall through the cracks in the system.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.07,0:04:16.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- Reduce.\N- Exactely.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.04,0:04:18.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sam told me that another\Nhuge misconception about recycling
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.80,0:04:20.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are plastic bags.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.11,0:04:23.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We get about 18 tons\Nof plastic bags here every day,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.82,0:04:26.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ideally, we would be getting nothing.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.38,0:04:29.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plastic bags are a low-quality\Nkind of plastic,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.04,0:04:31.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which makes them really hard to resell.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.33,0:04:34.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, in Sims´ case,\Nthey have to pay another company to come,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.88,0:04:37.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pick up the bags\Nand recycle them elsewhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.57,0:04:41.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On top of that, the bags get stuck\Nin the machine and can break it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.00,0:04:43.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you want to recycle\Nyour plastic shopping bags,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.55,0:04:46.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go to a plastic bag drop-off\Nat a retailer like Whole Foods.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.53,0:04:51.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or better yet, skip the plastic bags\Naltogether and bring a reusable bag.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.00,0:04:53.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s important to note\Nthat every city is different,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.45,0:04:56.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so look up what your city’s\Nrecycling plant accepts.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.05,0:04:58.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sims is one of the most\Ninclusive recycling plants
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.76,0:05:01.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the East coast\Nand it accepts more materials
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.44,0:05:03.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than many recycling plants.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.54,0:05:06.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Sam told me\Nto abide by the general rule:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.00,0:05:09.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"If it’s a hard plastic,\Nput it in the recycling bin."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.79,0:05:13.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Seeing the 800 tons of recyclables\Nat Sims was insane.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.75,0:05:17.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that’s nothing compared\Nto the 12,000 tons of trash
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.48,0:05:20.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,residents of New York City\Nthrow out every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.88,0:05:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know seeing that made me\Nmore conscious of what I use every day
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.10,0:05:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and inspired me to cut down\Non single-use plastics.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.04,0:05:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But let’s be real, plastic\Nis still a part of our everyday lives
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.76,0:05:32.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it’s hard to avoid it completely.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.86,0:05:36.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, I’ve realized\Nwe can have a say in where it ends up.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.65,0:05:38.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And while we’re at it,\Nhelp our environment
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.84,0:05:40.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and create a more sustainable future.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.91,0:05:46.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,♪ (upbeat music) ♪