Names Brianna Cabrera

Recycle City
A Scavenger Hunt For Information
http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/
Welcome to Recycle City! I think you will have fun exploring the community. You will need to
visit certain businesses in Recycle City to find out more about how they recycle. Do not choose
Activities or Dumptown Game yet because first we have to get some information.
The Landfill
Can you find the landfill on the Recycle City map? Its in the northeast section of the city.
What are the five layers of materials that have to go on top of the ground before trash can be
dumped into a landfill? Be sure to READ about the layers! (earth does not count)
1. The bottom layer next to the earth is made of at least two feet of clay that has been
pounded until it is very compact.
2. Next is a layer of strong, flexible, very thick plastic, called high density polyethylene
(HDPE).
3. On top of the plastic is a one-foot layer of gravel with pipes running through it. The
leachate collects in these pipes and is pumped out of the landfill and filtered.
4. Above the gravel is a layer of very tough fabric, called geotextile fabric, to protect the
gravel layer and pipes.
5. Finally, the top layer is about one foot of compacted soil to separate the entire liner
system from the waste and to protect the liner from being damaged by the waste or
landfill equipment.
City Hall
Can you find the Mayors Office? Hint: the Mayor works at City Hall and helps run the city. If
you have a business in Recycle City, what can you do to earn a special award from the Mayor?
__Reduce, reuse ,and recycle ___________________________________
Recycle City School
Where do kids in Recycle City go to school? Hint: its in the southwest part of town.
To reduce waste means to: cut back on what we use and what we waste.
To reuse means to: using items multiple times __________________________
To recycle means to: Convert used products back into raw materials, then making new products
with them

Names Brianna Cabrera

What are 2 of the recycling projects the students use to help raise money for their school?
1. Paper Drive

2. __Recycling program

The Savemor House

Find the Savemor House. Hint: Its in the same part of town as the school and is yellow.
1. Find, then click on the compost bin. What is the compost bin for? ______________________
The compost bin is used to recycle stuff like grass and yard trimmings, coffee grounds,
egg shells, and vegetable trimmings from the kitchen. As the waste degrades and turns
into compost, they use it to help their garden grow.

2. . Can you find boxes of reusable items? Name 4 materials and what they can be reused for.
Material

Can be reused as or for:

Paper and plastic bags

clean up around the house or taken to the store on the next

shopping trip. Brown paper bags are great for wrapping
packages to be shipped.

Wood

birdhouses, mailboxes, compost bins, garden borders or

other woodworking projects.

Packaging, colored paper, egg

citizen centers.
cartons
Newspaper, colored paper, egg
cartons, bubble wrap

arts and crafts projects at school, day care or senior

Ship packages

Marias Market
Find the market where citizens of Recycle City buy their groceries. Maria does many things to
help reduce waste.
1. Click on the groceries being put into bags. When you go to the grocery store and the checker is
packing your groceries to carry out, should you ask for plastic, paper, or bring your own?
__I should bring my own ___________________________________________
Recycle City Hazardous Waste Center
Harlin Hazzard of the Hazardous Waste Center wants to hire you as an assistant. Before you can
accept the job you must name the four characteristics that make hazardous waste hazardous.
1.

Ignitable (it can catch fire)

Names Brianna Cabrera

2.
3.
4.

Corrosive (it can eat through metal)

Reactive (it can explode)
Toxic (it is harmful or fatal to living things)

Your Own House

Make a list of things around your own house that you could donate to a community warehouse
instead of throwing them out.
Insect sprays
Batteries
Cleansers

paint
old medicines
cleaning fluids