Drop-Off Centers For Recyclables A drop-off center refers to a central location that s established to accept different types of recyclable materials. Even if a town or city has special curbside pick-up points, consumers may wish to transport their used materials here, especially if they have hazardous or toxic materials at home, and don t know how to safely store these. The Basics Of Plastic Recycling Derived from the Greek word plastikos , which means capable of being shaped or molded, plastic refers to a wide array of synthetic or semi-synthetic solids that are used in producing a wide variety of industrial products and items. When compared to materials such as metal and glass, plastics generally require a longer recycling process, because plastic has a high molecular weight, and it has larger polymer chains. You can do something to prevent this incident from happening again, by initiating a recycling program in your own school. While the activity may take some time and a lot of work, it should be worth your time and effort. Here are some tips for starting a recycling program in your school. Organize A Team, And Determine How Much Trash Your School Disposes A nice way for starting a recycling program in your school is to first organize a team, which may consist of students, teachers, administrators and other school staff. Recyclable materials come in different kinds, from paper, glass, metal, plastic, to textiles and other electronic components. Most cities and towns today have collection centers for recyclable materials, where these items are cleaned, sorted, and re-processed into new products and materials. Recycling Reduces Contamination, As Well as The Need for New Landfills Recycling provides a number of wonderful benefits for both man and the environment. The amount of wood and paper that we throw in our landfills each year is more than enough to heat 50,000,000 for the next twenty years. Used aluminum beverage cans are among the most easily-recyclable items today. A used aluminum can be recycled and returned back to the grocery shelf in as little as 60 days, and recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television set for 3 hours. Recycling During The Pre-Industrial Age During pre-industrial times, there was clear evidence of the collection of scrap metals like bronze, iron and steel in Europe. These scrap items were often melted down and formed into new products. In medieval England, people collected ash and dust from wood and coal fires, and these were used as base material for brick-making.