Waste sorting

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/waste-sorting

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the sorting technologies?Includes magnetic separators, eddy current separators, optical sorters, and air classifiers
2. What is the waste segregation categories?Typically divides waste into 'wet' (organic) and 'dry' (recyclable) streams
3. Why do we sort trash at home?When we sort at home, we help the recycling trucks pick up the right items, making it easier to recycle and keep the planet clean.
4. How do machines sort trash at recycling centers?Machines use magnets, lights, and air to pull out metals, glass, paper, and other materials, so they can be recycled faster and more safely.

Materials Recovery Facility (MRF): A facility designed to automatically sort and process recyclable waste materials.
Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT): A process combining mechanical sorting with biological treatment for waste management.
Circular Economy: An economic model focused on reusing, repairing, and recycling materials to minimize waste.