Bing Recycling Quiz: 60 Questions and Answers

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Recycling might seem like a simple task, but there’s more to it than tossing items in the blue bin. From plastic codes to composting rules, the details of proper waste management can challenge even the most environmentally conscious person. Ready to test your recycling knowledge and perhaps learn something new?

Grab a pencil and paper to track your answers as you work through these questions. Don’t worry if you’re unsure about some answers – that’s part of the learning process! The complete answer key appears at the end, so you can check your recycling IQ after finishing all questions.

Bing Recycling Quiz Questions

The answers to all questions can be found at the end of this quiz. Take your time and see how much you know about recycling practices around the world!

  1. Which material can be recycled almost infinitely without losing quality? A) Plastic B) Paper C) Glass D) Rubber
  2. What percentage of plastic waste globally gets recycled? A) About 9% B) About 30% C) About 50% D) About 75%
  3. Which item should NOT go in regular recycling bins? A) Newspaper B) Plastic bottles C) Pizza boxes with grease D) Aluminum cans
  4. What does the recycling symbol with the number 1 (PET or PETE) typically represent? A) Plastic bags B) Plastic bottles C) Styrofoam D) Hard plastics
  5. Which of these is considered “wishcycling”? A) Hoping items get recycled properly B) Putting non-recyclable items in recycling bins hoping they’ll be recycled C) Setting recycling goals D) Writing wishes on recyclable paper
  6. Which country has the highest recycling rate? A) United States B) Japan C) Germany D) Australia
  7. What should you do with bottle caps before recycling plastic bottles? A) Always remove them B) Leave them on C) Cut them into pieces D) It depends on local guidelines
  8. Which of these items typically cannot be recycled in curbside programs? A) Aluminum cans B) Plastic straws C) Cardboard boxes D) Glass bottles
  9. What’s the main purpose of rinsing containers before recycling? A) To prevent contamination B) To make them cleaner for workers C) To remove labels D) To reduce weight
  10. Which recycling method involves breaking down plastic into its chemical components? A) Mechanical recycling B) Chemical recycling C) Thermal recycling D) Biological recycling
  11. What color bin is typically used for recycling in the UK? A) Green B) Blue C) Red D) Yellow
  12. How long does it take for an aluminum can to decompose in a landfill? A) 80-100 years B) 200-500 years C) 10-20 years D) It never fully decomposes
  13. What’s typically made from recycled plastic bottles? A) New plastic bottles only B) Clothing, carpeting, and other items C) Food containers only D) Construction materials only
  14. Which item does NOT belong in paper recycling? A) Cardboard B) Newspaper C) Office paper D) Waxed paper
  15. What happens to most electronic waste (e-waste) globally? A) Gets properly recycled B) Goes to landfills C) Gets incinerated D) Gets exported to developing countries
  16. Which of these is considered hazardous waste? A) Paint cans B) Plastic bottles C) Cardboard D) Glass jars
  17. What does “closed-loop recycling” mean? A) Recycling that happens within a single facility B) Products are recycled into the same type of product C) Recycling without contamination D) Recycling that requires no energy
  18. Which material has the highest recycling rate in most countries? A) Plastic B) Glass C) Paper D) Metal
  19. What’s a common challenge in plastic recycling? A) Plastic is too heavy B) Different types of plastic can’t be recycled together C) Plastic is too brittle D) Plastic recycling uses too much water
  20. Which item should be taken to a special collection point rather than placed in curbside recycling? A) Newspapers B) Plastic bottles C) Batteries D) Cardboard boxes
  21. What can be made from recycled glass? A) Only new glass products B) Nothing – glass can’t be recycled C) New glass, construction materials, and other products D) Only construction materials
  22. How should you dispose of plastic bags? A) In regular recycling bins B) In special plastic bag recycling at stores C) Always in the trash D) By burning them
  23. Which material requires the most energy to recycle? A) Paper B) Plastic C) Glass D) Aluminum
  24. What does “downcycling” refer to? A) Reducing the amount you recycle B) Converting materials into lower-quality products C) The downward sorting process at recycling facilities D) Decreasing recycling rates
  25. Which item can cause problems in recycling machinery? A) Glass bottles B) Plastic bottles C) Plastic bags D) Cardboard boxes
  26. What should you do with broken glass before disposal? A) Recycle it with intact glass B) Wrap it in paper before putting in recycling C) Put it in regular trash, wrapped securely D) Crush it into smaller pieces for recycling
  27. Which of these cannot be composted? A) Fruit peels B) Dairy products C) Coffee grounds D) Vegetable scraps
  28. What happens to most recycled paper? A) It’s turned into new printing paper B) It’s made into tissue and packaging C) It’s used as insulation D) It’s converted to fuel
  29. Which of these actions helps improve the recycling process? A) Crushing aluminum cans before recycling B) Leaving labels on containers C) Removing labels from containers D) Putting recyclables in plastic bags
  30. What’s the recycling symbol with a number inside a triangle called? A) Recycling Code B) Resin Identification Code C) Plastic Type Number D) Material Processing Symbol
  31. How many times can paper typically be recycled before the fibers become too short? A) 1-2 times B) 3-4 times C) 5-7 times D) Unlimited times
  32. What should you do with used cooking oil? A) Pour it down the drain B) Mix it with water before disposal C) Put it in a container and throw in the trash D) Take it to a special collection point
  33. Which of these is an example of upcycling? A) Turning glass bottles into crushed glass B) Making a purse from old juice boxes C) Shredding paper for compost D) Melting aluminum cans into sheets
  34. Which recycling code (1-7) is generally the most widely accepted in recycling programs? A) #1 (PET) B) #3 (PVC) C) #6 (PS) D) #7 (Other)
  35. What’s a “materials recovery facility” (MRF)? A) A landfill B) A waste incineration plant C) A place where recyclables are sorted D) A composting center
  36. Which of these should not go in compost? A) Eggshells B) Meat scraps C) Fruit peels D) Coffee grounds
  37. What percentage of municipal solid waste in the US consists of food waste? A) About 5% B) About 15% C) About 25% D) About 40%
  38. How should you recycle shredded paper? A) In regular paper recycling B) In a paper bag before placing in recycling C) In trash only – it can’t be recycled D) In compost
  39. Which of these items can contaminate an entire batch of recycling? A) Flattened cardboard B) Plastic bottle with cap C) Food-soiled containers D) Aluminum cans
  40. What is “single-stream recycling”? A) Recycling only one type of material B) All recyclables go in one bin C) Recycling at individual homes only D) Using only one recycling facility in a region
  41. What should you do with aerosol cans before recycling? A) Make sure they’re completely empty B) Crush them C) Remove the nozzle D) Puncture them
  42. Which of these generally cannot be recycled through curbside programs? A) Newspapers B) Clear plastic bottles C) Styrofoam D) Aluminum cans
  43. What’s a common reason why items get rejected at recycling facilities? A) They’re too clean B) They contain mixed materials C) They’re too large D) They’re too small
  44. Which of these items should typically be recycled by returning to a store? A) Glass bottles B) Plastic grocery bags C) Aluminum cans D) Cardboard boxes
  45. What material saves the most energy when recycled instead of producing new? A) Glass B) Paper C) Plastic D) Aluminum
  46. What does “extended producer responsibility” mean in recycling? A) Producers must pay for recycling infrastructure B) Consumers must recycle all products C) Products must be designed for easy recycling D) Recycling companies must handle all waste
  47. Which electronic item contains valuable recyclable materials? A) Printers B) Cell phones C) Toasters D) All of the above
  48. What should you do with plastic bottle caps? A) Always throw them away B) Check local guidelines – rules vary C) Always recycle them separately D) Leave them in the bottle but loosened
  49. Which of these is NOT a benefit of recycling? A) Conserving resources B) Reducing landfill space C) Creating more mining jobs D) Saving energy
  50. What’s typically done with recycled aluminum? A) Made only into cans B) Made into various aluminum products C) Used only for construction D) Primarily exported to other countries
  51. Which of these belongs in regular recycling? A) Broken ceramic mug B) Used paper towels C) Plastic water bottle D) Used tissues
  52. What should you do with unused or expired medications? A) Flush them down the toilet B) Throw them in the trash C) Take them to a pharmacy or medication take-back program D) Dissolve them in water before disposal
  53. Which of these factors affects whether something can be recycled? A) The color of the item B) The weight of the item C) Local recycling capabilities D) The age of the item
  54. What happens to many recyclables from Western countries? A) They’re processed locally B) They’re sent to other countries C) They’re converted to energy D) They’re stored until needed
  55. Which of these is the correct hierarchy for waste management (most to least preferred)? A) Recycle, Reduce, Reuse B) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle C) Reuse, Reduce, Recycle D) Recycle, Reuse, Reduce
  56. What should you do with bottle caps from glass bottles? A) Always recycle with the bottle B) Always throw away C) Check local guidelines D) Collect for special recycling programs only
  57. Which type of plastic is most commonly recycled? A) #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) B) #3 (PVC) and #4 (LDPE) C) #5 (PP) and #6 (PS) D) #7 (Other)
  58. What happens to recycled tires? A) They can only be used in landfills B) They’re burned for energy C) They’re made into various products like playground surfaces D) They can’t be recycled
  59. How should you prepare cardboard for recycling? A) Leave it soaking wet B) Flatten it C) Keep food residue on it D) Always shred it first
  60. Which statement about recycling is true? A) All plastics with recycling symbols can be recycled curbside B) Recycling always uses less energy than making new products C) Recycling regulations and capabilities vary by location D) Most products made today contain recycled materials

Bing Recycling Quiz Answers

  1. C) Glass
  2. A) About 9%
  3. C) Pizza boxes with grease
  4. B) Plastic bottles
  5. B) Putting non-recyclable items in recycling bins hoping they’ll be recycled
  6. C) Germany
  7. D) It depends on local guidelines
  8. B) Plastic straws
  9. A) To prevent contamination
  10. B) Chemical recycling
  11. B) Blue
  12. B) 200-500 years
  13. B) Clothing, carpeting, and other items
  14. D) Waxed paper
  15. D) Gets exported to developing countries
  16. A) Paint cans
  17. B) Products are recycled into the same type of product
  18. D) Metal
  19. B) Different types of plastic can’t be recycled together
  20. C) Batteries
  21. C) New glass, construction materials, and other products
  22. B) In special plastic bag recycling at stores
  23. C) Glass
  24. B) Converting materials into lower-quality products
  25. C) Plastic bags
  26. C) Put it in regular trash, wrapped securely
  27. B) Dairy products
  28. B) It’s made into tissue and packaging
  29. C) Removing labels from containers
  30. B) Resin Identification Code
  31. C) 5-7 times
  32. D) Take it to a special collection point
  33. B) Making a purse from old juice boxes
  34. A) #1 (PET)
  35. C) A place where recyclables are sorted
  36. B) Meat scraps
  37. B) About 15%
  38. B) In a paper bag before placing in recycling
  39. C) Food-soiled containers
  40. B) All recyclables go in one bin
  41. A) Make sure they’re completely empty
  42. C) Styrofoam
  43. B) They contain mixed materials
  44. B) Plastic grocery bags
  45. D) Aluminum
  46. A) Producers must pay for recycling infrastructure
  47. D) All of the above
  48. B) Check local guidelines – rules vary
  49. C) Creating more mining jobs
  50. B) Made into various aluminum products
  51. C) Plastic water bottle
  52. C) Take them to a pharmacy or medication take-back program
  53. C) Local recycling capabilities
  54. B) They’re sent to other countries
  55. B) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  56. C) Check local guidelines
  57. A) #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE)
  58. C) They’re made into various products like playground surfaces
  59. B) Flatten it
  60. C) Recycling regulations and capabilities vary by location

How did you score on this recycling quiz? Whether you got 10 questions right or 50, the key takeaway is that recycling rules can be tricky and often change based on where you live. The most helpful thing you can do is check with your local waste management company about their specific guidelines.

Recycling correctly makes a big difference – it conserves resources, saves energy, and reduces pollution. Each small action adds up to a big impact on our environment, so keep learning and keep recycling properly!