Benefits of Recycling
If you look at the facts that are supported by a number of different measures, recycling provides tangible benefits.
Conserving Resources
Recycling allows us to conserve vital natural material resources.
Recycling reduces the waste that ends up in our landfills, conserving landfill capacity.
Cleaner Land, Air and Water
Recycling also means cleaner land, air and water. Recycling also cuts greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. For example, by recycling nearly 7 million tons of metals (including aluminum, steel and mixed metals), Americans eliminated greenhouse gas emissions totaling nearly 6.5 million metric tons of carbon equivalent, an amount equivalent to removing more than 5 million cars from the road for one year.
Energy Savings
Recycling also helps Americans save money by reducing energy costs. For example, according to the National Recycling Coalition:
- Recycling glass uses 40 percent less energy than is necessary to make new glass;
- It requires 40 percent less energy to make paper from recycled paper than it does to make paper from fresh lumber;
- Recycling steel requires 60 percent less energy than is necessary to make the new steel;
- Recycling plastics uses as much as 70 percent less energy than is necessary to make the same plastics; and
- Recycling aluminum uses 95 percent less energy than is necessary to make new aluminum.
Continue reading here: What do you need to know about recycling plastics?
Was this article helpful?
