Recycling!

Lately, I had joined (or volunteered) to help preparing things that will be recycled further to the items that we used now. Whew, I never thought that the items that we threw away into the trash can would be classified further, even though the trash can these days separates different materials! Well, preparing them is rather easy, but what makes it hard is the quantity of the things. I would want to share some info on how people classify the ‘trash’ further before it gets recycled further just to make the process easier. :>

The things that I helped to prepare for further recycling are:

- Plastic bottles

- Plastic cups

- Newspapers

- Normal papers

--- Note: I am not sure if it was the same for each places, but at least, this is how I did it in the branch where everything will be recycled. ---

Plastic Bottles

Right, on top of the list is plastic bottles. In doing this, a container and a plastic sack are needed. To prepare the plastic bottles, the cap of the bottle needs to be removed and placed in a container. Then, the bottle would be stepped over and over until its completely flat. Easy right? :D

The stepped bottle (missed some though)

Although this is the main outline of the process, the bottle should also be classified by its color. If the bottles that are being prepared is transparent and the other is colored, then the two bottles must be separated. The easiest example for both colors would be the plastic bottle for Aqua and the plastic bottle for Sprite.

Plastic Cups

Next type is the plastic cups. For this type, a trash can and maybe a plastic sack is needed. The preparation for the plastic cups would be cutting the brand out with either scissors or cutter or your hands (as long it cuts the brand cleanly). It’s a short method, really. The end result would be like this:

The plastic cup after the brand at the top is cut out.

Like the plastic bottles, if the top of the cup is colored, it will be separated from the transparent ones.

--- Random information: In Indonesian language (or my first language), such cups are called Gelas Kopi. (Direct translation: ‘Coffee glass’) ---

Newspapers

My personal favorite: Newspapers! I like this type since… I only need a roll of plastic rope for this one. All we need to do to prepare the newspaper is simply opening it, like the image below:

Before...

And after.

After the newspapers piled up (up to each person on how tall they want), tie it up, and ta-da~ it’s done!

The newspapers tied up.

Unlike plastic cups and bottles, the newspapers are separated based on their sizes, so well… Easier to separate? (in my opinion, that is. :> )

Normal Papers

[Not sure about the title, but oh well. I got no other names.]

So for the papers… There are many ways to separate it, though in my opinion, its mainly three groups. First one is the paper that is mostly white or close to white. The second one is the group of papers that are white but either smaller than A5, ripped or taped, or a combination of the two, or envelopes. It can also be the papers that are between close to white and colored, such as fax papers. The last group is the colored paper. Because there are three groups, three plastic sacks are needed.

The first group of the papers: white papers.

The second group of the papers: smaller than A5, ripped or taped, fax papers, and envelopes.

The third group of the papers: coloured papers.

[Inner voice: I find this the hardest one since its classified in such way that some papers may seem to be the second group but can also belong to the first group and so on. :< ]

I tried asking the people that prepared these materials and they said that the plastic bottles are stepped so that the plastic sack can contain more plastic bottles. As for the newspapers… It is just so that the newspapers would not get separated and neater.

[Inner voice: I think there are some other reasons on stepping the bottles…]

Another thing that I asked is why are the colored ones separated from the transparent ones. It seems that transparent ones are sold in a higher price since there are more variety in terms of choices for transparent ones.

--- Food for thoughts: I would say that if there are some water that’s left in the plastic bottle or cup, it’s best to finish it (if it belongs to you in the first place) or use it to water the plants since… I can’t really tell if someone is recycling his or her own things or not. It somewhat makes me sad to see a lot of water that is left in the bottle while recycling it, especially when I had a thought that not everyone gets clean water to drink. ---

Well, that’s all for what I did for recycling… Or preparing the things that will be recycled. I hope that this can be useful for those people who want to help recycling or help the people that are in charge of preparing the things that will be recycled!

Conclusion

Just going to be writing my personal opinion! If I were to choose on which city is the best one that I went to, it would be…. *drum rolls*

Niagara Falls!

Why Niagara Falls? Because this place is just simply beautiful and astonishing. Not to mention we had a boat ride to feel the Falls’ ‘fragments’, which gives us an idea on how fast is the water rushing.

There are also other places of interest aside from the Falls, which is Clifton Street. This street is quite a good place – If only I can go inside the Guinness World Record museum to find out what’s inside…

Oh, and the place we had lunch! The place I mentioned where a restaurant is located on the top of the falls. We can see the Falls falling while eating delicious lunch. :9

Well, this is just my personal opinion – Others may disagree though.

That's the end of my trip in U.S! I hope you know more about places of interest in East Coast of U.S.A and part of Canada! :D

Extra: Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

Along the way from Boston to New York, there is a humongous factory outlet called Woodbury Factory Outlet. For those who love to shop, it’s recommended to visit there!

Map of Woodbury Premium Outlet

The descriptions

The descriptions - part 2

* sorry for the terrible image quality :( *

Shopping tip from the tour guide: It is also recommended to walk down through the outlet till the end first, then start to shop to the place nearest to where you park so that it won’t be too heavy.

[Inner voice: ...but where is the end of the outlet? Its not square like the factory outlets I used to visit...]

My personal favourite shops: GAP, G.H. Bass, Naturalizer, and Tommy Hilfiger :)

Enjoy shopping~!

Boston (?)

Before stopping to City of Boston, there is a city to stop by called Cambridge. This place is famous for two universities: Harvard University and MIT.

Harvard University

Harvard University's Main Gate 

Inside Harvard University's Area

This is the famous Harvard University. In my opinion, if it was not for John Harvard’s statue, I might just think of this place as a normal place because… I guess its because the students are having a holiday.

Statue of John Harvard

This statue is John Harvard’s statue. From what I got from the tour leader, he was the person that funded on building Harvard University, which was called Newtowne University before. Notice that his shoe was… Shining gold I might call it? It seems like it was the result of millions of people touching them.

MIT

MIT, the building close to a bridge that leads to Boston 

Next is MIT. Well, its huge. Too bad that I did not gain too much information about this place as again, the tour member’s had no enthusiasm to look around, not to mention that the research facilities was said to be a bit far as it is further away than the nearest intersection. There is a chance where a picture of the research facilities can be taken, but the bus’ windows were all wet and sadly, no picture of it.

[Inner voice: Come on! It’s MIT, people! Please, if anyone happens to be there, I really recommend on finding out more about MIT and their research facilities. It's a rare chance! (Unless if you live there)]

Sculpture of The Alchemist

*Clears throat* Anyway, forget my complaints. Across the building, there is an artwork or sculpture named The Alchemist that is made by stainless steel and white enamel pain, or so the sign says. It was mentioned by the tour leader that the artwork is made of numbers and signs, but I am not exactly sure if it includes all the signs used in calculations or not.

Due to the hard rain along the way to Boston, the tour ended right here as we arrived way later than expected. It was planned that the tour will see Freedom Trail and Quincy Market, but… yeah. So, that’s the end of the whole tour.

Oh wait, there is an extra. Its Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, a place for shoppers~ Will be posting an extra for this~

Montreal

Going through Montreal Bridge - Just a random shot : >

Going through the Montreal Bridge... And we are here! Welcome to Montreal! Well, this city is another city that is similar to France, as I mentioned before. Also, the places of interest here is also almost similar to Quebec, which is Old Montreal, Notre Dame and Place de Armes. I only passed by Court of Justice and I don’t think I need to say anything about China Town since… The name tells us everything.

Statue of Maisonneuve and City Hall at the back

Notre Dame in Montreal

Uhm… So, Place de Armes is a fountain in which there is a statue of Maisonneuve, the founder of Montreal. Behind Place de Armes is Old Montreal, which is the old City Hall of Montreal. Right across Place de Armes, there is Montreal’s Notre Dame, in which of course, Notre Dame is a church, just like the one in Ottawa and Quebec. Well, no longer there is not much to say – three of the places of interest are very nearby, not to mention that we can see China Town from here, in which is also close to Court of Justice and the new City Hall of Montreal.

The new City Hall

Here is the new City Hall of Montreal that is currently used. Again, nothing much to say about this place of interest as it is similar to the previous city.

Cour Municipale 

Because this place is using French as their main language, the name of the building is named as “Cour Municipale”, in which “Cour” means “court” and “Municipale” means justice. Hmm, a few new words are learnt! Too bad though, that we did not go down from the bus. :/

Random Tips: To be honest, in China Town, I bought and drank a bottle of green tea that is about to expire in one day! Side notes – It is made in Singapore, and in Singapore’s time… It’s expiry date. Be careful around there – Please check the dates before purchase!

Hmm, nothing else to say about Montreal then. Final stop: Boston :>