Thermoforming:

The process of heating a thermoplastic sheet to a working temperature and then forming it into a finished shape by means of heat or pressure. (Modern Plastics Encyclopedia 1995).

Thermoplastic:

(1) Capable of being repeatedly softened by heat and hardened by cooling. (2) A material that will repeatedly soften when heated and harden when cooled. Typical of the thermoplastic family are the styrene polymers and copolymers, acrylics, cellulosics, polyethylenes, polypropylene, vinyls and nylons. (Plastics Engineering Handbook of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., edited by Michael L. Berins, 1991).

Thermoset:

A material that will undergo or has undergone a chemical reaction through the application of heat and pressure, catalysts, ultraviolet light, etc., leading to a relatively infusible state. Typical of the plastics in the thermosetting family are the aminos (melamine and urea), most polyesters, alkyds, epoxies, and phenolics. (Plastics Engineering Handbook of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., edited by Michael L. Berins, 1991).

Unit Pricing:

Also known as variable rate pricing or pay-as-you-throw, is a system under which residents pay for municipal waste management services by unit of waste collected rather than through a fixed fee. Note: 1) Costs under unit pricing systems can be allocated based on either volume or weight; 2) Fixed fee systems usually collect such fees through property taxes regardless quantity of waste collected. (Pay-As-You-Throw; Lessons Learned About Unit Pricing. U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA530-R-94-004, April 1994).

Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC):

In addition to its stable physical properties, PVC has excellent transparency, chemical resistance, long-term stability, good weatherability, flow characteristics and stable electrical properties. The diverse slate of vinyl products can be broadly divided into rigid and flexible materials. Rigid applications, accounting for 60 percent of total vinyl production, are concentrated in construction markets which include pipe and fittings, siding, carpet backing and windows. Bottles and packaging sheet are also major rigid markets. Flexible vinyl is used in wire and cable insulation, film and sheet, floor coverings, synthetic-leather products, coatings, blood bags, medical tubing and many other applications. (Adapted from Modern Plastics Encyclopedia 1995).

Waste Reduction:

Source Reduction: The design, manufacture, use or reuse of materials or products (including packages) to reduce their amount or toxicity throughout their useful life and when they are reused, recycled, landfilled or incinerated. Because it is intended to reduce pollution and conserve resources, source reduction should not increase the net amount or toxicity of wastes generated throughout the life of a product. Source reduction is sometimes referred to as waste prevention. (National Recycling Coalition: Definitions Approved by NRC Board of Directors, September 10, 1995).

Waste-To-Energy:
The conversion and recovery of the energy value in waste materials through the application of high temperature, controlled combustion. The recovered thermal energy can then be converted to electrical energy in steam driven turbine generators for plant use and for export/sale, or it can be exported and sold directly as steam or hot water for industrial processes and space heating. The recovered energy also can be used to generate chilled water for industrial processes or air conditioning. Most waste-to-energy projects employ combustion facilities specifically designed to accommodate the anticipated waste deliveries. These state-of-the-art, dedicated boilers are designed to extract the maximum energy value from the delivered waste materials and to simultaneously reduce the generation of potentially harmful gases and residues from the combustion process to well below stringent regulatory levels. The waste materials routinely delivered to such facilities include municipal solid wastes (MSW) such as residential and commercial wastes; non-hazardous institutional wastes; and non-hazardous, non-manufacturing industrial solid wastes. Industrial plastic wastes and post-consumer plastic plastics that cannot be economically recycled provide an excellent source of fuel for waste-to-energy facilities. There are other waste-to-energy projects that utilize existing, appropriately modified industrial or utility boilers to combust specially prepared fuels derived from solid wastes-these are called refuse derived fuels, or RDF. (Integrated Waste Services Association, "Waste Energy," IWSA, Washington, Date Unknown; Keep America Beautiful, Inc., "Overview: Solid Waste Disposal Alternatives," KAB, Inc., Stamford, Conn., April 1989).

Waste Wise:
A program initiated by EPA in 1994 to assist businesses in taking cost-effective actions to reduce solid waste through waste prevention, recycling collection, and buying or manufacturing recycled products. (Waste Wi$e; EPA's Voluntary Program for Reducing Business Solid Waste. U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA530-F-93-018, October 1993).