Certified Recycling Systems Technician Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary goal of a materials recovery facility (MRF)?
A) Convert waste to energy
B) Sort and separate recyclable materials
C) Landfill waste safely
D) Produce compost
Rationale: The primary purpose of an MRF is to sort and separate
recyclable materials to prepare them for resale or further processing.
2. Which of the following is considered a single-stream recycling system?
A) Source-separated glass only
B) All recyclables mixed together
, C) Only plastics and metals
D) Yard waste only
Rationale: Single-stream recycling allows all recyclable materials to be
collected together and separated later at a sorting facility.
3. What is the most common type of plastic used in beverage bottles?
A) PVC
B) PET
C) HDPE
D) LDPE
Rationale: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is widely used in beverage
bottles due to its strength and recyclability.
4. What is the first step in the recycling process for metals?
A) Melting
B) Collection and sorting
C) Compaction
D) Re-forming
Rationale: Metals must first be collected and sorted to ensure proper
recycling and to prevent contamination.
5. What is the key advantage of baling materials in a recycling facility?
A) Reduces chemical contamination
B) Reduces storage space and transportation costs
, C) Improves material quality
D) Increases material weight
Rationale: Baling compresses materials, making storage and
transportation more efficient and cost-effective.
6. Which type of glass is typically recycled separately from containers
due to chemical composition?
A) Clear bottles
B) Green bottles
C) Ceramics and fiberglass
D) Brown bottles
Rationale: Ceramics and fiberglass contain different chemical compositions
that are not compatible with standard container glass recycling.
7. What does contamination in a recycling stream typically cause?
A) Faster processing
B) Reduced material quality and processing efficiency
C) Lower labor requirements
D) Increased recycling rates
Rationale: Contaminants like food waste or non-recyclables can damage
equipment, lower material quality, and increase processing costs.
8. Which metal is considered non-ferrous?
A) Aluminum
B) Steel
, C) Iron
D) Cast iron
Rationale: Non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum, do not contain
significant amounts of iron and are less prone to rust.
9. What is the purpose of an eddy current separator in a recycling plant?
A) Remove ferrous metals
B) Separate non-ferrous metals
C) Shred paper
D) Sort plastics
Rationale: Eddy current separators use magnetic fields to separate non-
ferrous metals like aluminum from other materials.
10. What is the typical particle size target after shredding plastic
bottles for recycling?
A) 1–5 mm
B) 5–10 cm
C) 10–50 mm
D) 50–100 cm
Rationale: Shredded plastic bottles are typically reduced to 10–50 mm
flakes for washing and further processing.
11. Which of the following is NOT commonly recycled in curbside
programs?
A) Paper
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary goal of a materials recovery facility (MRF)?
A) Convert waste to energy
B) Sort and separate recyclable materials
C) Landfill waste safely
D) Produce compost
Rationale: The primary purpose of an MRF is to sort and separate
recyclable materials to prepare them for resale or further processing.
2. Which of the following is considered a single-stream recycling system?
A) Source-separated glass only
B) All recyclables mixed together
, C) Only plastics and metals
D) Yard waste only
Rationale: Single-stream recycling allows all recyclable materials to be
collected together and separated later at a sorting facility.
3. What is the most common type of plastic used in beverage bottles?
A) PVC
B) PET
C) HDPE
D) LDPE
Rationale: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is widely used in beverage
bottles due to its strength and recyclability.
4. What is the first step in the recycling process for metals?
A) Melting
B) Collection and sorting
C) Compaction
D) Re-forming
Rationale: Metals must first be collected and sorted to ensure proper
recycling and to prevent contamination.
5. What is the key advantage of baling materials in a recycling facility?
A) Reduces chemical contamination
B) Reduces storage space and transportation costs
, C) Improves material quality
D) Increases material weight
Rationale: Baling compresses materials, making storage and
transportation more efficient and cost-effective.
6. Which type of glass is typically recycled separately from containers
due to chemical composition?
A) Clear bottles
B) Green bottles
C) Ceramics and fiberglass
D) Brown bottles
Rationale: Ceramics and fiberglass contain different chemical compositions
that are not compatible with standard container glass recycling.
7. What does contamination in a recycling stream typically cause?
A) Faster processing
B) Reduced material quality and processing efficiency
C) Lower labor requirements
D) Increased recycling rates
Rationale: Contaminants like food waste or non-recyclables can damage
equipment, lower material quality, and increase processing costs.
8. Which metal is considered non-ferrous?
A) Aluminum
B) Steel
, C) Iron
D) Cast iron
Rationale: Non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum, do not contain
significant amounts of iron and are less prone to rust.
9. What is the purpose of an eddy current separator in a recycling plant?
A) Remove ferrous metals
B) Separate non-ferrous metals
C) Shred paper
D) Sort plastics
Rationale: Eddy current separators use magnetic fields to separate non-
ferrous metals like aluminum from other materials.
10. What is the typical particle size target after shredding plastic
bottles for recycling?
A) 1–5 mm
B) 5–10 cm
C) 10–50 mm
D) 50–100 cm
Rationale: Shredded plastic bottles are typically reduced to 10–50 mm
flakes for washing and further processing.
11. Which of the following is NOT commonly recycled in curbside
programs?
A) Paper
