2000年高考英语全国卷 - 阅读理解E

Excused from recycling because you live in a high rise with a rubbish chute? You won’t be for long. Miami’s Mark Shantzis has made it simple for those living in tall buildings to use the chute and recycle too.
住在带垃圾槽的高楼里就不用垃圾回收吗？不用等太久，迈阿密的迈克尔· 尚茨已经让住在高楼里的人也能使用垃圾槽进行垃圾回收变得简单。

In Shantzis’ Hi-Rise Recycling System, a chute leads to a pie-shaped container with six boxes that can turn around when operated. The system, which fits in the same space as the chute and container now in use, enables glass, plastic, paper, and other rubbish to go into separate boxes.
在尚茨的高层垃圾回收系统中，一个垃圾槽通向一个饼状容器，该容器有六个盒子，在操作时可以翻转。该系统与现在使用的垃圾槽和容器位于同一空间，使玻璃、塑料、纸张和其他垃圾能够进入不同的盒子。

The system is controlled from a board fixed next to the chute door. The board has a button for each class of recycling materials (as well as for unrecyclables). At the press of a button, a microcomputer locks all other floors’ chute doors and sets the recycling container turning until the right box comes under the chute. The computer also counts the loads and gives a signal by phone when the box is full. And a particular piece of equipment breaks up the nonrecyclables.
该系统由固定在垃圾槽门旁边的一块板控制。该板上有一个按钮，用于各类回收材料（以及不可回收材料）。只要按下按钮，一台微型计算机就会锁上所有其他楼层的垃圾槽门，并让回收容器转动，直到合适的箱子进入垃圾槽。计算机还会计算装载量，并在箱子装满时通过手机发出信号。一个特定的设备会分解不可回收物品。

Sorting recyclables before they are collected saves the use of expensive materials recovery equipment which otherwise has to do the sorting. Such equipment often makes materials very expensive, so expensive that tons of recyclables remain wasted. Shantzis believes his system could help recycled materials become more cost-effective.
在收集可回收材料之前对其进行分类，可以避免使用昂贵的材料回收设备，否则将不得不用这些设备对其进行分类。这些设备通常会使材料变得非常昂贵，以至于成吨的可回收材料被废弃。尚茨相信他的系统可以帮助回收材料变得更具成本效益。