How Garbage Is Recycled At The US' Largest Recycling Facility

The Sims Municipal Recycling Facility in Brooklyn is the largest recycling facility in the country. In just one day, the facility sees about 800 tons of recyclable materials. That's the equivalent of nearly 100 elephants. Because of the amount of materials the center is able to process, it's helped remove more than 200,000 garbage trucks from NYC's streets.
See more from Sims Municipal Recycling: www.simsmunicip...
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Produced by: Marisa Palmer, Nick Fernandez, Meranda Yslas

[@benokhattirach310]

I don't know why but I feel so happy everytime I see recycling videos

[@crashthestash]

[@cashk581]

Much respect for this factory and for the people who work there thank you all

[@viva9284]

I think we need more factories like this across America so we can get more people working and more waste being recycled .

[@AmidnightGrace13]

Yea, it's a dirty job, but it's better than having plastic contaminate the environment. Also, people should ideally rinse recyclables before putting them out, otherwise they just get thrown in with regular trash if food particles are still present.

[@HideorEscape]

I think people should just sort the garbage at home, work or in public into categories so the guys at sorting will have an easier job. In fact there shouldn't be any "mixed garbage" We would be able to recycle almost everything. Sorting garbage is one of the worst, nastiest job ever. It's not for everyone and I don't think that most people would accept it.

[@msya2831]

Not Just AMERICA Throughout the world needs it

[@samkom33]

@S M i have workd i a fish oil factory,, hehe, say 2 week old rotten fish dont smell good in the summer heat spesially when you heat it to a boil to seperaste out the oil.. but after 5 to 15 minutes the brain eliminates the smell, and you dont notice it anymore. later in life i hawe workd on say farms.. you get used to the smell just as fast there.

[@springrollwang4441]

It's a sorting plant, and then shipped the waste to poor asian countries, end up in illegal landfill on a farmland, polluting the land, and waiting storm to flush it into the Ocean. COOL.

[@JustinY.]

My left ear really enjoyed the audio in the beginning

[@KidNamedKewlHam]

Here before "you're everywhere" reply

[@mint-o5497]

Justin Y. I see your comment on literally every video wtf is this 😂

[@lilpeepspeeps1663]

Why do I see you everywhere?

[@junkookie2994]

Justin Y. SAME UGH

[@slav1453]

Justin Y. I see you’re here as well

[@stannleyn]

That magnetizing part reminded me of Toy Story 3 lmao

[@ladymaranosg7149]

Stanley Ng Me too

[@rainingsantos4669]

Same it was suspenseful

[@icantdrawasimpleflowerhere7092]

Stanley Ng we have just watched it

[@warmac88]

Stanley Ng LOL

[@davidwillard7334]

Maybe ! THIS !! Whole !! RECYCLING !! FRENZY !! COMES !! FROM !! TOY !! STORY !! THREE !!!

[@potatoseed7380]

It’s like Wall-E

[@warmac88]

Milkshake Master yep

[@wthomas2]

Hey my name's Wall---y 😆

[@dianedong1062]

I want to see videos on what happens to the different materials after they get sorted at this Brooklyn facility.

[@SmartHerSparty]

I recently subscribed to Dr. Richard Venditti. He has taken tours that show the reclaim process of some recyclable materials.

[@SmartHerSparty]

Literally TODAY. Lol.

[@Anonymous-ru2wk]

They get thrown out. Many are not recyclable

[@rolikkrolik8477]

you need work there for a week, you will understand how it's work... in general unrecyclable materials go to burning facility...

[@henrietta1066]

How many Republican & democratic leaders have visited Water & Waste plants in USA

[@societyender6666]

If people filmed this process and uploaded it in consecutive videos. I would be addicted to it.

[@IceAge20017]

I work in a recycling facility in MN. Here are tips. 1. Remove caps from plastic bottles or we take them off ourselves which waste time. 2. Plastic bags and film MUST be recycled at separate plants or they clog up the conveyors. You can find places to recycle these at Walmart, target, or any other large retailer. If you put them in traditional recycling bin they end up in a landfill because we can't process them. 3. If you want to recycle shredded paper put it inside a *paper* bag tied closed with a zip strip. If the shreddings are loose they get thrown away when the conveyors are cleaned.

[@ANT_LNQNY]

Good to know!

[@Suchtel10]

Tell that the EU because they made it compulsory that the cap is fixed on the bottle

[@AtticusDraco]

technically, this facility is NOT recycling anything,, IT'S JUST SORTING!

[@gcas1097]

True. No recycling happening there.

[@chrisyu98]

libs don't care as long as they feeeeel good, never mind it goes overseas and is burned or dump in the ocean or dump. There is a very limited use for mixed plastic waste.

[@davisdelp8131]

But then the shorted is reused

[@AtticusDraco]

@@davisdelp8131 & like a good lib, Davis here wants to believe he saw something he didn't You witnessed sorting,, that's it! Your 'lib imagination' is convincing you it's being "reused", eventhough you clearly DID NOT SEE it being done! ALL you witnessed was it being sorted,, or in your case 'shorted'

[@TravelNorthAmerica365]

We just got to visit! Its so amazing to see in person. Kara gave a great tour!

[@Coco81218]

People who work in this industry definitely deserve a raise

[@meganlee5008]

We need more recycling centres like this around the world

[@davidwillard7334]

HOPEFULLY !! WE !! WILL !! GET !! ONE !! IN !! SWAZILAND !! ONE !! DAY !!!

[@davidwillard7334]

OOHH !! SO !! THIS !! IS !! SLEEPY !! JOE'S !! HOUSE !! AMAZING !! THIS !! IS !!

[@stefonsimmons7178]

Ummmm. This isn't recycling. It's a sorting and selling facility

[@samlabo1688]

But, they made cubes of contaminated plastic and shipping to China and SEAsia NY is liberal state all feel better soon people It's ok to ship it to China They will (Take care of it)

[@vijaysharma7848]

Ok

[@einodebmiel4050]

@@samlabo1688 why we should accept it?

[@springrollwang4441]

@@samlabo1688 and It will end up in illegal landfill on a farmland, waiting storm to flush it into the OCEAN and suffocate some sea turtle and baby penguin, Love that.

[@TainaElisabeth]

They sort recyclable material and sell it. What’s not clicking?

[@KJAD_Radio]

I'm reading a lot of confused comments saying it just goes to landfills or "Why should we recycle?" I had the same thoughts as well. Even if you don't care about the world, let me explain. I just started designing projects for a recycle company and from what I have learned. Recycling is a billion dollar industry. Companies would rather buy recycled material than new expensive materials. By cutting the cost, you create more jobs. These recycle or sorting companies don't need the government's help, the government needs theirs lol. Those cubes of cans and paper are called bails. They are sent to a company where they broken down and transferred to another company. Aluminum is very expensive. Some cubes are worth about $1000 each because aluminum is very expensive to extract from the earth like some metals we use in technology. For paper, just imagine how much the demand of toilet paper went during Covid19. Now the government does not like trash in the landfill which is gaining so much attention because it is costing real estate. Yeah you probably heard they are digging pipes to extract methane and sell it, but it is practically worthless to what could have been done. The government is pressuring people to recycle and some blame the recycle facilities which makes no sense. Quick tip: Plastic bags are not recyclable. That is what you can throw away unless you directly recycle them to some plastic bag facility, but who in the world would do that. Some people barely throw away trash.

[@FilipinosaAmericavlog]

Wow! It's amazing ! NYC is a model to an environmental city .

[@miles5600]

It isn’t. Look at what amsterdam does with trash

[@m4x927]

Not really, 80% of our energy grid still runs on fossil fuel.

[@guillermonavarro8224]

Son todos gremiliastas en esta empresa se ve que es municipal pero siempre los del sindicato de camioneros o la uocra estan metidos en esto……

[@adiellamas3913]

Te van a prender fuego la casa a vos

[@mateobaleta1097]

Coincido con vos compañero estos de la uocra están por todos lados

[@xBloodXGusherx]

You guys chose the MOST music and sounds to make this video.

[@Ruma-lh7zd]

Me and my group are using this source for our science fair where we have to present our project. This video is so helpful :D

[@jambrand3708]

Take out the trash. Recycle, reuse conserve. ♻♻♻

[@alexandermilleriii499]

The only detailed video made by INSIDER.

[@dhruvbrahmbhatt7375]

A big salute to everyone who works overthere

[@AffordBindEquipment]

I heard about an office building where they had recycle containesr for all the different kinds of recyclables. Everyone did their part for the planet and went home probably feeling good about it. then once a week, the maintenance guy came by, emptied them all and threw it all in the dumpster because there was no recycle place nearby....

[@ANT_LNQNY]

This happens in a lot of places, unfortunately

[@majinDuu]

If only I could sort out my life like how they're sorting out all the garbage

[@kawaiibear5774]

Dumi Madikane that is life I guess

[@work1008]

you can because your life is garbage too

[@Julie-jl2kk]

there's no way you can sort all the shit by the time it reaches them. we need to have a system where everyone is responsible for sorting their own trash. and companies who sell everyday goods with packaging need to make it easier for us to do that.

[@miles5600]

If the US would adopt the recycling bin in every state than that would already help us for 60 procent. The netherlands has 3/4 bins 1 for: plastic and needs to be in a plastic/paper bag. 2 for: paper 3 for: garden/nature 4 for: is optional Also we have a chip attached to the bin to look for any warnings for people that’s didn’t recycle, as a result your trash won’t be picked up. And many places in the netherlands have underground trash dumpsters for smell (would really work in nyc)

[@jonnybirchyboy1560]

Or better yet, Companies need to stop manufacturing disposable Plastic sh!t

[@honeybit7395]

0:28 *Wall E intensifies*

[@HarrisCrey-ig2qt]

I encourage everyone of us to invest in recycling and support genuine recycling initiative. I have been investing in recycling for two years now. Although the profit are not what I expected but is it worth it, contributing to sustainability is worth it, you should be part of it too. I will be willing to guide you.

[@gabriellopez4111]

Then after that Wall-E comes in and cubes up the trash along with the bigger Wall-A 😂

[@johnkramer7018]

I like recycling. I am a recycling nut. I always pick up trash that I know is recyclable and put it in my recycling bin just to get all of my recyclables picked up at the curbside.

[@gyubur]

Aren’t you suppose to clean out the item before you recycle?

[@pierrevallet6188]

not really, the idea is that the plastic recipients are clean enough to reflect the light and be separated from each other, avoid to leave a layer on on inch of cream, but don't clean like a champagne glass

[@davidwillard7334]

THE !! WATER !! WILL !! GET !! CONTAMINATED .!! IF !! YOU !! DO !! THAT !!!

[@KidNamedKewlHam]

Welcome to America

[@majinDuu]

This is America

[@tetianaytko83]

Thanks for your hard work!

[@timcory4455]

What percent of plastic is recycled in US? Plastics accounted for 12 percent of the 292 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the U.S., totaling some 35.7 million tons. However, the volume of plastic waste recycled in the U.S. is 3.1 million tons, giving a recycling rate of just 8.7 percent.

[@SaintBison209]

Can only imagine the smells...

[@EoRdE6]

Well if people would rinse out recyclables like they should then it wouldn't be all that baf

[@pierrevallet6188]

it smells very strong, winter is the best saison to visit it

[@khhnator]

@@EoRdE6 rinsing recyclables doesn't kinda defeats the point? you putting something that would be easy to clean in a recycling plant into water

[@EoRdE6]

@@khhnator what? What??? Do you understand how recycling works?

[@khhnator]

@@EoRdE6 imagine glass recycling, where they melt the whole thing to make new glass. there is two possibilities, they either can't allow contaminants mixed with the glass so they HAVE wash them or they don't care as it gets separated in the recycling process i really don't know which to be honest and doesn't really matter. because if they do wash the bottles they likely do it in a much more water efficient way than you can do in your kitchen sink. and if they don't wash... well they don't wash. either way you just wasting water

[@tanya7957]

We need less plastic in general. All cookies , packed in plastic packages plus plastic tray inside each package, eggs in clear plastic container, dry fruits and nuts in clear plastic containers, etc... All those packages can be made from paper.

[@whspr1907]

This is where I live. I am trash.

[@kawaiibear5774]

Zlender we're in this together brother...

[@kawaiibear5774]

Together...

[@lookbehindyou2549]

Don't worry your going to get recycled like the the rest Buddy

[@bayu901]

At least you get recycled

[@thomasthedankengine1252]

Yep same here

[@dman7163]

Yes we need to improve ways to get the trash to this factory instead of the ocean. Also make more of these 🏭 across America. I agree on this it's a great plan.

[@Booner360]

The clawwwww !!!!

[@warmac88]

Booner360 LOL

[@FirstnameLastname-qe3ry]

dam all these cardi b albums. people must love em

[@skegypteardis_28273]

Great job.👍👍👍

[@IM-iw7wd]

It’s amazing what humans do.

[@davidwillard7334]

YOU !! AND !! I !! ARE !! VICTIMS !! OF !! IT !!

[@danram247]

But the real question is...where does it really go?

[@HenryTitor]

Asia

[@texassteven8988]

Glad to see it’s not going in the landfill, thank you

[@lenn4671]

Please don’t recycle me, it hurt..

[@Sikeeee72727]

Eyy, your garbage might be there, ok jk. This is helpful to the environment and every contents, territories, countries must do this.

[@Someone-kl6dp]

its like playing with a huge claw machine

[@davidwillard7334]

WHAT !! EARTHMOVING !! EQUIPMENT !!??

[@gangesexcavating]

This place looks like it would be a bottomless pit of government subsidies to stay alive.

[@uhohhotdog]

It should be subsidized. Landfills are subsidized.

[@shawnafrias3654]

What they don't tell us is that the "sold to continents" around the world, like third world countries who pay their people miniscule amounts of money to burn hazardous plastics that cannot be recycled. These are often times burned in their front yards and these people, even kids are inhaling these fumes. "Recycling" and selling is a multibillion dollar profit at the expense of human life.

[@yoursshasha]

This is the importance of separating organic and inorganic waste so that it is easy to sort

[@berylvimala3326]

we need to have a system where everyone is responsible for sorting their own waste

[@mvnaemm12_]

Look, there is a lot of rubbish that needs to be recycled.

[@ferizibraa]

Waste doesn't really get recycled it's just a new industry that allows the plastic makers to make more plastic. It's ridiculous here in Canada we are asked to wash out our recyclables with fresh drinking water can you imagine how ridiculous this must sound to the rest of the world who's dying of thirst

[@mksjj70]

I once hauled trash with a 18wheeler and least once a week we would go to the recycle plants and haul a load of plastic bottles to the land fill.

[@michaelwang1579]

Mom: Where’s all the water bottles? My room:

[@AffordBindEquipment]

my neighbor used to use their recycle can for diapers....every week that thing stunk. can't imagine what that recycle place smells like...

[@ashleyharris9016]

How long have they been doing this?

[@tis.kaitlyn]

Can you guys please do a video on Studio C. They are a HILARIOUS comedy group 😆😆😆 Seriously... you need to do a video on them

[@aineeli7822]

I remember monsters inc

[@l.wheels3458]

This is better than putting it in a landfill.

[@springrollwang4441]

it will end up in illegal landfill in poor countries, either get burned or flushed by storm into the Ocean. So the truth is, dumping it directly in Ocean will save some fuel, reduce green house gas.

[@merathore9978]

Am I the only one who got this video to be my maths holiday homework..

[@demoone1518]

I work for waste management, biggest recycling company to this day

[@tiha6093]

My ocd cannot stand the mess around the waste cube holy

[@huntsgt]

It's quite refreshing to see a "the largest" instead of "one of the largest"

[@DeShoujo]

Why not make the people sort the plastic paper glass?

[@flaviakellys]

my dream that Brazil has such resources to recycle

[@abdulnaseer346]

Hello! Early...;-: For the first time in forever ~

[@juliereyes2065]

Abdul Naseer I know right

[@nintendowatermelon6357]

For the 2 years in forever

[@pcfllms]

What I learned from this video; an elephant weighs 8 tons.

[@bakedsalad4k222]

Reminds me of TOY STORY 3

[@olivet8402]

Same I was thinking that! When the claw saved them from their death which resembles global warming and how bad pollution is getting.

[@bakedsalad4k222]

Olivia the Magical unicorn yup

[@blackkid4397]

At least clean up the place it looks like *Trash*

[@skatergrl13]

Bransen Smith wait are you serious?

[@animedweeb3054]

Get out now

[@nadegedjangone3913]

Lol

[@JMH702]

@@nadegedjangone3913 Lol

[@paule-harryellegeffrard6782]

It has trash in it

[@hcmswrecycling4236]

This way of recycling waste is better than burning it to generate electricity.

[@JassonQuill]

so they still send it to other country..nice

[@ninjiropears]

So this is where all my astroglide containers go to

[@PixelShade]

recycling isn't a solution. It's a band-aid to a problem that shouldn't be as expansive as it is in the first place. This isn't recycling. It's a sorting facility in which the waste is sold off to other places.

[@saliansassitaram]

Is there any policy for Dry and Wet waste in USA so that so much waste of time/money can be saved

[@FreeRigz]

Am I the only one who got a lesson in the school about this? Lmao

[@armyforlife1072]

I wonder how it smells.

[@nicewords252]

Decent, it's probably mostly water bottles and paper.

[@pinkski9699]

You don’t want to know

[@dipanshigautam5459]

Same as when u don't take bath for 1 week...maybe🤣

[@qwertyeet]

1:07 hurts to watch, we didn’t get to see the trash fall in 😩

[@ceciliacastillo9047]

Oh god. This wasn’t a surprise since I saw Toy Story 3

[@pahrahinc3895]

My wife and I rinse out or wash all the jars, bottles, cans and remove all the labels. We cut out the cellophane windows from the envelopes, and use a lot of water everyday cleaning our garbage. We believe all the "Waste Management" wants is the Aluminum. They actually believe the people who re-cycle believe everything that goes into the re-cycle bin is re-cycled. We think everything goes into the Land Fill except the Aluminum. What a sham, what a joke

[@chettennant2642]

You're an idiot.

[@ohkennedymc9707]

One facilities trash is another mans home.

[@Rob...]

im sure it smells delightful

[@aqxuire]

Left ear is tingling

[@nataliperez2073]

How can I visit this plant? I would like to see the processes to learn.

[@jefkoele-wijn8872]

Interesting to see how it's done

[@trdjody]

🤔 maybe the next step should be actually reusing the materials for "new" products.

[@nodnoc]

doesn't happen they just ship it to developing countries with less regulation where it's buried, burned, or dumped in the ocean

[@KJAD_Radio]

@@nodnoc That wouldn't make any sense. I just started doing some project work for a recycle facility and I can tell you it's a billion dollar industry. Companies would rather buy recycled material because it's cheaper. How do you think these guys make money especially with government regulations increasing prices for how much trash you contribute to the landfill.

[@GlitchesGames]

Imagine loosing something in that trash pile

[@dheerajkukade2592]

2:52 what happens after packing into stacks. It is then transferred to the developing and underdeveloped countries. Finally we are zero waste country. That's it.

[@hasanhusaint2605]

My country need Recycling facility... hahaha

[@Sebybills4]

We have a assignment of this for school

[@alexscher1609]

Who says tin cans anymore?

[@eft5949]

Waste doesn't really get recycled it's just a new industry that allows the plastic makers to make more plastic. It's ridiculous here in Canada we are asked to wash out our recyclables with fresh drinking water can you imagine how ridiculous this must sound to the rest of the world who's dying of thirst

[@andyseinfeld1954]

So guys this is what happens to where I live everyday

[@KidNamedKewlHam]

0:29 Do those cubes look familiar to you?

[@gasmask9893]

How garbage is destroyed in toy story 3

[@ranchdressing1037]

Unfortunately, way too much of these materials are unusable due to contamination to the point where China instituted a threshold on purity of a bundle. That didn't work, so they have no choice these days but to turn away the world's garbage, as it's highly contaminated. I grew up in a recycling plant. Low life people would basically steal mini cardboard bales from drug and grocery and dollar stores. They would cut the bales open, contaminate them with heavy materials like rocks, concrete, solid metal chunks, etc.. pretty much daily. And they were weighed in, weighed out, paid, and long gone while I was cutting their scam open with a front end loader bucket. It was fun to drive over them to find the speed bump-like contaminants.

[@anaesterhernandez]

I always thought to myself when I was young why can’t they just invent a animal or big monster to eat it all .

[@dipanshigautam5459]

lmao

[@davidwillard7334]

BRING !! BACK !! DINOSAUR !! / T !! - REX !! JURASSIC !! PARK !!!

[@sarnobat2000]

0:39 - if you hate the audio at the beginning

[@hahahakayo9313]

Hope the Philippines have this kind of facility..... But I guess that's gonna happen.... Lol

[@stebarg]

It looks the same way after its being recycled.

[@oyaoya3596]

Hi... 0.29 Looks like Steps to trash heaven

[@timbercladdingcn]

Unbelievably, the staff in that place did not wear masks.

[@charliesantoso5536]

I'm from indonesia, and i think it's kind of weird, but i have a dream to have a company like this