# Waste & Recycling

Part of the Sustainability Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/index.md)

*6. Stuff & Waste*

> **6c.** Research the impact waste has on the environment (land, water, air). Find out what the trash vortex is and how it was formed. Explain the number system for plastic recyclables and which plastics are more commonly recycled. Identify the average lifespan of one electronic device in your household, and whether it can be recycled in whole or part.

## How Waste Affects the Environment

Every piece of trash you throw away has to go somewhere — and that "somewhere" affects the land, water, and air around it.

### Impact on Land

Most waste ends up in **landfills** — engineered sites where trash is buried. In the U.S., there are about 2,600 active landfills. They take up enormous amounts of space, and despite engineering controls, they can leak toxic chemicals into surrounding soil. Landfills also generate **leachate** — liquid that seeps through decomposing trash and can contaminate groundwater if the liner fails.

Illegal dumping in forests, fields, and vacant lots damages habitats, introduces toxins into soil, and makes areas unsafe for wildlife and people.

### Impact on Water

Waste that is not properly managed often ends up in waterways. Plastic bags, bottles, food packaging, and industrial waste flow into rivers, lakes, and oceans. This pollution:

- Kills marine life (animals mistake plastic for food or become entangled)
- Introduces microplastics into the food chain
- Contaminates drinking water sources
- Creates "dead zones" where decomposing waste depletes oxygen, killing fish and other aquatic life

### Impact on Air

Landfills produce **methane** — a greenhouse gas about 80 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year period. Burning waste (incineration) releases CO2, dioxins, and heavy metals into the atmosphere. Even transporting waste in diesel trucks generates significant air pollution.

> **Safety First!**
>
> Never burn household trash in a backyard fire pit or barrel. Burning plastics, treated wood, and other materials releases toxic chemicals into the air that you and your neighbors breathe. It is also illegal in many areas.

## The Trash Vortex (Great Pacific Garbage Patch)

The **Great Pacific Garbage Patch** — also called the trash vortex — is a massive concentration of plastic debris in the North Pacific Ocean. It is located between Hawaii and California and covers an area estimated at twice the size of Texas.

### How It Formed

Ocean currents form large circular patterns called **gyres**. The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre slowly rotates clockwise, trapping floating debris in its center. Over decades, plastic waste from coastal communities, ships, and rivers across the Pacific Rim has accumulated in this zone.

The patch is not a solid island of trash — it is more like a cloudy soup of plastic fragments, many smaller than a grain of rice (**microplastics**). These particles are nearly impossible to clean up and are consumed by fish, seabirds, and marine mammals throughout the food chain.

> **Did You Know?**
>
> There are actually five major ocean garbage patches — one in each of the world's subtropical gyres. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest, but similar accumulations exist in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, South Pacific, and Indian oceans.

## Plastic Recycling Numbers

Look at the bottom of any plastic container and you will see a number inside a triangle of arrows. This **resin identification code** tells you what type of plastic the item is made from:

| Number | Plastic Type | Common Products | Commonly Recycled? |
|--------|-------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| 1 — PET/PETE | Polyethylene terephthalate | Water bottles, soda bottles | Yes — widely recycled |
| 2 — HDPE | High-density polyethylene | Milk jugs, detergent bottles | Yes — widely recycled |
| 3 — PVC | Polyvinyl chloride | Pipes, window frames | Rarely recycled |
| 4 — LDPE | Low-density polyethylene | Plastic bags, squeeze bottles | Sometimes (special drop-off) |
| 5 — PP | Polypropylene | Yogurt cups, bottle caps | Increasingly recycled |
| 6 — PS | Polystyrene (Styrofoam) | Takeout containers, packing peanuts | Rarely recycled |
| 7 — Other | Mixed or specialty plastics | Water cooler bottles, some food containers | Rarely recycled |

**Key takeaway:** Only plastics **#1 and #2** are consistently recycled across the U.S. The rest often end up in landfills even if you put them in the recycling bin. Check your local recycling program's website to find out exactly which numbers they accept.

> **Tip**
>
> The triangle of arrows on plastic containers does not mean the item is recyclable — it only identifies the type of plastic. This is one of the most common misconceptions about recycling. Always check your local program's accepted materials list.

## Electronic Waste (E-Waste)

**E-waste** includes any discarded electronic device — phones, computers, TVs, game consoles, and more. It is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world.

### Device Lifespans

The average lifespan of common electronics varies widely:

- **Smartphone:** 2–4 years (most people replace them every 2–3 years)
- **Laptop computer:** 3–5 years
- **Desktop computer:** 5–8 years
- **Television:** 7–10 years
- **Game console:** 5–7 years
- **Tablet:** 3–5 years

### Why E-Waste Matters

Electronics contain valuable materials (gold, silver, copper, rare earth metals) alongside hazardous substances (lead, mercury, cadmium). When e-waste goes to a landfill, those toxic materials can leach into soil and groundwater. When it is properly recycled, those valuable materials can be recovered and reused.

### Recycling Electronics

Most electronics can be recycled in whole or in part:

- **Best Buy, Staples, and Apple** stores accept old electronics for recycling
- **Manufacturer take-back programs** (Dell, HP, Samsung) let you mail back old devices
- **Local e-waste collection events** are held in many communities
- **Certified e-waste recyclers** (look for R2 or e-Stewards certification) ensure responsible recycling

For your counselor discussion, pick one electronic device in your household and research its average lifespan, what happens when it is discarded, and your local options for recycling it.

![A clear illustration showing the seven plastic recycling symbols with their numbers, names, and common product examples](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/plastic-recycling-numbers?v=039aac1a)

[How to Recycle Electronics — EPA](https://www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling): EPA guide to donating and recycling electronics responsibly, including certified recycler directories.

Video: [The Great Pacific Garbage Patch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtaNqGyHkNE)

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