Lesson 1Glass types and damage handling (tempered, annealed, colored, shattered glass)Explores different glass types, including container, tempered, and laminated glass, and how they behave when broken. Learners practice identifying colors, coatings, and damage, and apply safe handling and containment procedures for shards.
Container glass vs flat and specialty glassTempered and laminated glass break patternsColor sorting: clear, green, amber, and othersCoated, mirrored, and ceramic-contaminated glassSafe cleanup and containment of shattered glassLesson 2Hazardous items: batteries, aerosols, chemicals, sharps — risks and labeling recognitionExplains how to recognize hazardous items in waste streams, understand their risks, and interpret labels and symbols. Covers safe handling, temporary storage, and escalation procedures to prevent injury, fires, and environmental releases.
Common household hazardous items listBattery types, damage signs, and leak risksAerosol cans: pressure, puncture, and fire hazardsChemical product labels and hazard pictogramsSharps handling, containers, and incident responseLesson 3Paper and cardboard grades, contamination effects (waxed, greasy, coated, laminated)Covers main paper and cardboard grades, from office paper to corrugated boxes, and how coatings, food grease, and moisture affect recyclability. Learners practice identifying contamination and deciding when to divert loads from recycling.
Office paper, newsprint, and mixed paper gradesCorrugated cardboard structure and strengthWaxed and coated papers: recyclability limitsGreasy, wet, and food-soiled paper handlingSorting decisions for borderline paper itemsLesson 4Textiles and fibers: natural vs synthetic, recycling pathwaysIntroduces textile and fiber categories, distinguishing natural, synthetic, and blended fabrics. Learners recognize common garments and household textiles, understand reuse and recycling options, and identify contamination that blocks recovery.
Natural fibers: cotton, wool, and celluloseSynthetic fibers: polyester, nylon, acrylicBlended fabrics and labeling challengesWearable reuse vs downcycling pathwaysMoisture, mold, and soiling as contaminantsLesson 5Composite and mixed materials: multi-layer packaging, black plastics, lined cupsExamines composite and mixed-material products, such as multilayer pouches, lined cups, and black plastics. Learners identify visible layers, coatings, and colorants, and decide when items must be treated as residual rather than recyclable.
Multilayer pouches and foil-lined packagingPaper cups with plastic or wax liningsCartons and aseptic packaging recognitionBlack plastics and optical sorter limitationsDisassembly vs residual disposal decisionsLesson 6Metals identification: aluminum vs steel, magnetic testing, contamination issuesCovers how to distinguish aluminum from steel and other metals using appearance, weight, and magnets. Learners identify common packaging and scrap forms, recognize contamination sources, and understand why separation quality matters.
Common aluminum and steel packaging formsMagnet testing and simple field checksPainted, coated, and laminated metal itemsFood residues, labels, and mixed-material lidsImpact of metal contamination on furnacesLesson 7Organics and compostables: food waste behavior, contamination, and separationExplains how organic materials behave in collection systems, including odor, pests, and moisture issues. Learners distinguish compostable from non-compostable items and apply separation rules to reduce contamination in organics streams.
Food waste categories and moisture behaviorCertified compostable vs biodegradable claimsCompostable liners, utensils, and servicewareNon-compostable look-alikes to keep outOdor, pests, and leachate management basicsLesson 8Small mixed items and contaminants: fasteners, elastics, food residue impact on streamsFocuses on small mixed items that easily contaminate recycling streams, such as fasteners, elastics, and food residues. Learners practice recognizing these items, understanding their impact, and applying removal and containment steps.
Metal fasteners, clips, and small hardwareRubber bands, elastics, and string tanglersFood residues on packaging and containersLoose labels, stickers, and tape fragmentsScreen, conveyor, and bale contamination risksLesson 9Polymer chemistry and common plastic types (PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS) — visual cues and resin codesIntroduces basic polymer chemistry and the main plastic families used in packaging. Learners link resin identification codes, visual cues, and common products to correct streams, while noting hazards like PVC and problematic black plastics.
Amorphous vs crystalline polymer behaviorPET and HDPE packaging uses and traitsPVC, LDPE, PP, and PS common applicationsReading and interpreting resin identification codesVisual and tactile cues for plastic sortingLesson 10E-waste components and hazards: batteries, capacitors, heavy metalsDetails typical e-waste components, including circuit boards, batteries, and capacitors, and the heavy metals they may contain. Learners identify visual risk indicators and follow safe removal, storage, and labeling procedures for e-waste.
Common e-waste categories and device examplesPrinted circuit boards and soldered componentsEmbedded batteries and swollen cell indicatorsCapacitors, stored energy, and fire risksHeavy metals, leaching, and exposure controls
