TO ALL THIS STUFF COMING UP NEXT. WHAT’S IN YOUR BIN? WE’RE
TALKING RECYCLING AND ORGANICS
IN THIS KSAT EXPAINS. I HAVE
BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
ONE. IF YOU HAVE THOSE BINS,
YOU FILL THEM UP, HOPING THAT
WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS A GOOD
THING, REDUCING WASTE AND
HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT.
BUT CAN WHAT YOU TOSS IN THERE
ACTUALLY BE REUSED OR DOES IT
ALL JUST GET TOSSED OUT
SOMEWHERE ELSE ALONG THE WAY?
HERE’S KSAT EXPLAINS WHAT’S
IN THE BIN.
>> YOU TOSS IT IN HERE HOPING
IT DOESN’T WIND UP HERE.
AND HERE IS WHERE THAT’S
DECIDED. THE REPUBLIC’S
SERVICES PROCESSING PLANT.
THEY TAKE IN ALL THE
RECYCLABLES FOR CITY OF SAN
ANTONIO CUSTOMERS. THIS IS TIM
TEAM. AND I’LL EXPLAIN MORE.
WE GET UP THERE TO OPERATIONS
MANAGER OF THE FACILITY WHERE
AN AVERAGE OF 400 TONS OF
UNWANTED STUFF ARRIVES EVERY
DAY. SO WE HAVE TO PROCESS AT
LEAST 215 OR MORE TIMES A DAY.
>> HER SHIFT.
>> TO STAND FOR THAT. YOU’RE
LOOKING AT 430 TIMES.
>> FIRST, A LOAD OF RECYCLABLES
IS WAY THEN DUMPED.
>> OUR LOWER OPERATORS, BOY AND
THE MATERIAL FLOODED.
>> YES, FLUFF IT. IT’S TO HELP
SEPARATE THE ITEMS SO THEY CAN
BE SORTED MORE EASILY ON THE
PRE SORT LINE. THESE EMPLOYEES
ARE REMOVING WHAT WILL NOT BE
RECYCLED AND WILL BE SENT TO
A LANDFILL. THEY HAVE TO REMOVE
45 UNWANTED ITEMS PER MINUTE TO
STAY ON PACE. IT GOES INTO
SCREENING PROCESS WITH THE
CARDBOARD IN THE BLAST WERE
TAKEN OUT.
>> THEN AFTER THE SCREENING
PROCESS IN THE CARDBOARD, THE
GLASS, IT GOES IN THE OPTICAL
SORTING AREA WHERE THE PAPERS
ARE TAKEN OUT. SO WHAT MAKES
THE CUT TEAM AND CALLS IT THE
CORE 4? YEAH. PAPER CARDBOARD
BOXES AND CANS THAT ARE CORE 4
THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN YOUR
SYSTEM.
>> NOT ONLY BECAUSE THOSE
THINGS CAN BE REUSED, BUT
BECAUSE SOMEONE WANTS TO REUSE
IT. THESE ITEMS ARE PROCESSED
AND THEN SOLD TO MILLS. NOT
ONLY WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED ONE,
THERE IS A MARKET FOR.
♪
>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS
DEPENDING ON WHO WANTS IT.
THAT’S THE MILL THAT ARE
RECYCLED. BUT THERE’S NOT A
DESIRE FOR, THOUGH IT MAY BE
STAMPED WITH THE RECYCLE SYMBOL
ON IT.
>> WE NOW HAVE AN OUTLET FOR
TEAM AND SAYS GOODS THAT ARE
RECYCLED NEED TO MEET A FEW
REQUIREMENTS. THEY MUST BE BIG
ENOUGH FOR THE MACHINES TO
PROCESS OR CAPTURE. IF IT’S
SMALLER THAN A BUSINESS CARD,
WE’RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO
CAPTURE.
AND ITEMS NEED TO BE CLEA.
WELL, REJECT THE MATERIAL ON
THE DOWNGRADE, DOUBT SOMETHING
THAT
HAPPENS. IT.
>> IF IN DOUBT THEY DOWNGRADED,
THEY CAN SEND IT BACK TO US.
SO WE PAY FOR THE FREIGHT FOR
THAT TRUCK TO COME BACK HERE.
PLUS, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT’S WRONG WITH MATERIAL
REPROCESS IT YET AGAIN AND TRY
TO SELL IT AGAIN. SO THAT’S
DOUBLE COST. AND THAT’S WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE REASONS BAIL
MAY BE DOWNGRADED OR REJECT IT.
CONTAMINATION. THE TEMPTATION
BEING TOO MUCH PLASTIC BAGS OR
THEY’RE STRAINING SYSTEM
DIAPERS, LEAVING OR NOT, SOME
TYPE OF MEDICAL WASTE. WE
WANTED TO PUT A FEW THINGS TO
THE TEST. WE’RE GOING TO START
WITH AN EASY ONE.
>> SURE, YES. HOW THIS?
>> YES. AND THESE CLAMS SHELLS
THEY CAN GET CITED IF THEY’RE
CLEAN. HOW ABOUT THIS?
>> ALL SAY YES TO THAT. BUT IF
YOU BRING THE RAID AND
COLEMAN PROPANE BOTTLE ABOUT
THAT SIZE. I’LL TELL, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE IT’S COMBUSTIBLE.
HOW ABOUT THIS SMALL LITTLE
TOWN EVEN ON LEAVE IT ON?
>> LOOK INSIDE.
WOULD YOU WANT THAT?
IT’S BECAUSE THE CAMERA TO
CONTAMINATION ON THE INSIDE.
IT MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR US TO
PROCESS. BUT IF I CLEANS THIS
CLEAN.
>> AND I COULD LEAVE THE PAPER
OR AND THE TIME.
>> TO OUR RIGHT CLEANING BACK.
>> REMEMBER, WE’RE TRYING TO
DO. WE’RE TRYING TO CAPTURE
CLAIMS. SO NO, WE REALLY DON’T
WANT THAT IN OUR STREAM WITH
ITS A BIG CITY STREAM LIKE OURS
BECAUSE WE CAPTURED IT’S GOING
TO GET CONTAMINATED BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE NOT AS CLEAN AS
EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> WE WE COULD CAPTURE THE
>> BUT MAYBE NOT THE CONTAINER.
HOW ABOUT ITS
>> NOW, IF IT’S TRULY THAT FINN
GLADE, YOU THINK THIS IS
CARDBOARD, RIGHT? YES, IT IS
KIND OF A CORONATION, BUT IT’S
IT’S YOU CAN SEE IT SO YOU CAN
CAPTURE IT SO YOU CAN PUT IT IN
THERE AS LONG AS THAT’S ALL YOU
THROW IN THERE, YOU DON’T THROW
THE INNER AND THEIR 2 KIDS.
AND WE HAVE TO SEPARATE THAT
ENTER FROM THE CARDBOARD.
WE’D RATHER YOU SEPARATE THE
ENTER AND THE CARDBOARD PUTTING
SEPARATELY WILL SEPARATE THE
PLASTIC BAG THAT MY FOOTBALL
SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT’S GOT TO
BE.
>> I DIDN’T DO IT. 31, I’M NOT
GOING TO DO THAT TO YOU.
BUT LET’S PRETEND. NO, NO,
PLEASE, NO. BUT IT HAPPENS.
IT HAPPENS A LOT.
♪
>> THAT’S TOO SMALL. AND IT’S
IT’S IT’S IT’S A PLASTIC.
IT’S A LOW GRADE PLASTIC.
>> EVEN IF I NEED ABOUT IT AND
I BACK THEM ALL OUT SO THAT
THEIR SIZABLE.
>> COMES DOWN TO THAT OLD CAN
WE CAN WE? WHAT CAN WE DO WITH
PLASTIC BAGS? UNFORTUNATELY,
THE MARKET RIGHT NOW IS NOT.
MORNING PLASTIC BAGS.
>> YOUR CITY CUSTOMER, YOU’RE
ALLOWED TO. THAT’S MY BEST WAY
ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.
IF YOUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO
CUSTOMER, THIS IS THE WAY THEY
TELL YOU TO DO IT, DO IT.
THIS.
♪
THIS. ♪ >> CLEAN PAPER PLATE. YOU CAN.
RIGHT NOW THE CITY OF SAN
ANTONIO HAS A 3RD CONTAINER.
WHAT’S THAT FOR?
>> WHAT’S IN THE ORGANICS?
BEEN?
HE’S BROUGHT HERE 15, 20 TO
5000 TRUCKS A DAY. SO WHAT GOES
IN SAN ANTONIO’S GREEN BINS
COULD BE GRASS CLIPPINGS.
TREE TRIMMINGS, RUSH. ALSO FOOD
WASTE. THOSE ARE GETTING TO
THOSE ONCE LIVING ARE NOW DEAD
OR IF YOU CAN EAT IT AND ITS
FOOD WASTE, THOSE ARE CONSIDER
AGAIN.
JUST LIKE THE RECYCLING
FACILITY. PLASTIC BAGS ARE NO
GOOD HERE EITHER. LET’S SAY
YOU’RE CUTTING YOUR GRASS AND
YOU DON’T ALTER, YOU WANT TO
BAG YOUR GRASS TO TAKE THOSE
GRASS CLIPPINGS. YOU PUT HIM
INTO A PLASTIC BAG WHEN YOU
PUT THAT PLASTIC BAG IN YOUR
GREEN BIN. OH, GREAT. I
ORGANICALLY OR CYCLE
TECHNICALLY DID. THE GRASS
CLIPPINGS ARE GOOD. BUT THE
PLASTIC IS NOT GOOD. WHAT IS
ACCEPTED HERE IS ALSO SOLD TO
CUSTOMERS IN THE FORM OF
COMPOST. COMPOST IS AN ORGANIC
MATERIAL THAT PROVIDES
NUTRITION BACK TO MOTHER NATURE
WHERE SHE ONCE GAVE US THAT
MATERIAL FROM FIRST, THE
ORGANIC MATERIAL IS SHREDDED.
ALRIGHT, DOJ HAS PUT A COUPLE
BUCKETS IN AND THEN THE LOAD IS
SIMPLY WHAT RAMOS SCREEN FOR A
BIG DROP. SO IN THAT DRUM,
ANYTHING THAT SPINNING AROUND
THAT IS UNDERNEATH THAT ONE
INCH DIAMETER HOLE TO STAFF.
YES.
>> THEN IT’S UP TO THE SORTING
LINE WHERE NON ORGANIC ITEMS
GET TOSSED OUT FOR LOOKING FOR
CLASSIC MODELS. LAST ROCKING
THE THING. NONBIODEGRADABLE
FLOOR.
THESE HUMAN SPOTTERS ALSO HAVE
ROBOTIC BACKUPS.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
TECHNOLOGY, USING CAMERAS AND
COMPUTERS TO PICK OUT WHAT
DOESN’T BELONG. IT HAPPENS ALL
THE TIME. I MAY NOT BE AS FAST.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK I AM.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE I
WILL MISS IT AND THE ROBOT WILL
PICK IT RIGHT UP. I’VE SEEN
WEED EATERS THE LAWN MOWER.
>> GRAHAM, SOME CATS. BUNCH OF
DIFFERENT. VERY THING.
>> WHAT THAT, OF COURSE, IS
NOT WHAT MAKES GOOD COMPOST.
IT’S STUFF LIKE THIS.
50 TO 60 TONS OF FOOD WASTE IS
DUMPED HERE DAILY. YOU CAN BUY
CUT UP FRUIT AND CUT UP
VEGETABLES OR EVEN STEAM
BUBBLES LIKE BROCCOLI
CAULIFLOWER. BRUSSELS SPROUTS
IN A BAG. A LOT OF THAT FOOD
WASTE MATERIAL THAT DOESN’T
MAKE IT TO EACH OF YOUR LOCAL
GROCERY STORE CHAINS.
>> COMES HERE. THIS HUGE PILE
OF FOOD SCRAPS PROVIDES ONE OF
2 KEY INGREDIENTS FOR COMPOST,
NITROGEN TO NEED A CARBON
SOURCE, WHICH IS YOUR GREEN
WASTE.
>> THE GRASS CLIPPINGS, TREE
TRIMMINGS. WE ALSO NEED OF FOOD
WASTE STREAM. THAT’S WHAT MAKES
A GOOD HIGH QUALITY COMPOST,
CARBON AND NITROGEN FOOD WASTE
MATERIAL. OTHERWISE AS FOOD
SCRAPS PROVIDE A GOOD SOURCE OF
NITROGEN WORDS, GREENWAYS
PROVIDES PART OF THE PILE.
SIT FOR UP TO 2 MONTHS FOR THE
CURE AND MATURE UNTIL THE
COMPOST IS READY. LAST YEAR
ALONE, WE DIVERTED 67,000
TIMES.
>> SO BY DOING THIS, WE’RE
REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TRASH
AND GOOD MATERIAL GOING TO
LANDFILL. AND THAT’S THE GOAL
WHEN IT COMES TO ORGANICS AND
RECYCLABLES. YES, ONE MAN’S
TRASH IS.
>> HOPEFULLY SOMETHING SOMEONE
ELSE IS WILLING TO PAY FOR.
BUT THE HOPE IS ALSO THAT THE
ENVIRONMENT ISN’T CHARGED
NEARLY AS MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT. NOW WE PUT EVEN
MORE ITEMS TO THE TEST THAN
WHAT YOU SAW HERE TO SEE IF
THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE RECYCLED.
IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THAT FULL
VIDEO AND THIS STORY GO TO
KSAT.COM. YOU CAN ALSO JUST