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Recycling and Resource Recovery Flashcards

7 cards from real CPWM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. In the hierarchy of material management strategies, which option ranks highest under the EPA waste management hierarchy?

    Answer: Source reduction and reuse

    Source reduction—preventing waste from being generated in the first place—ranks at the top of the EPA's inverted pyramid, above reuse, recycling, composting, and disposal.

  2. A 'feedstock recycling' process such as pyrolysis converts post-consumer plastics into:

    Answer: Fuel oils, waxes, or chemical feedstocks through thermal decomposition

    Pyrolysis uses heat in an oxygen-free environment to break down plastic polymers into oils and gases that serve as chemical feedstocks or fuels, rather than producing recycled resin.

  3. Which MRF equipment type uses differences in particle velocity and trajectory to separate flat from three-dimensional materials?

    Answer: Ballistic separator

    Ballistic separators use paddles that impart different trajectories to flat (2D) materials like paper and 3D containers, sorting them into separate streams by their bouncing behavior.

  4. When a state mandates a 75% recycling rate by 2030, which metric calculation best tracks progress toward that goal?

    Answer: Tons of material diverted from disposal divided by total MSW generated

    Diversion rate is calculated as tons diverted (recycled, composted, recovered) divided by total MSW generated, expressed as a percentage, which aligns with statutory recycling rate definitions.

  5. Which end market quality standard governs recovered paper grades sold domestically in the US?

    Answer: ISRI Scrap Specifications Circular

    The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Scrap Specifications Circular defines the grades and quality standards for recovered paper, metals, plastics, and other secondary commodities traded in the US.

  6. A waste-to-energy (WTE) facility that combusts 500 tons per day of MSW and generates electricity is classified under RCRA as:

    Answer: A solid waste disposal facility subject to Subtitle D regulations

    WTE combustion facilities that process non-hazardous MSW are regulated under RCRA Subtitle D as solid waste disposal facilities and must meet EPA's emission standards for large MWCs.

  7. The concept of 'upcycling' differs from conventional recycling in that it:

    Answer: Transforms waste into a product of higher quality or value than the original

    Upcycling creates higher-value products from discarded materials—for example, turning glass bottles into decorative items—rather than breaking materials back down to raw form.