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KNOW THE BENEFITS OF RECYCLING
Why bother to recycle? Because each of us are charged with protecting our environment and conserving natural resources for the many generations to come. You are a steward of Mother Earth and the process of caring for her starts with you!
Here are some important facts to know when you make your choice about recycling:
DID YOU KNOW?
More than half of all garbage produced by a household can be recycled. Think about how much landfill space we could save if everyone recycled!
PLASTICS Plastics are made from petroleum, which is a limited, non-renewable resource. Five recycled two-liter plastic bottles make enough fiberfill for a ski jacket. About 1/3 of the carpet made in America has recycled plastic in it. Recycled plastic is also made into commercial strapping, clothing and outdoor lumber which does not rot. When milk jugs and liquid detergent bottles are recycled, they produce those same products for reuse. |
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ALUMINUM Over 1,500 aluminum cans are recycled every minute. Each pound of aluminum recycled eliminates the need to mine 4 pounds of bauxite ore - another of our valuable natural resources. Each recycled aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a television set for 3 hours. Every American drinks about 370 beverages from aluminum cans each year. About half of those are recycled...but two million cans are thrown away. |
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PAPER It takes one 35-foot tall tree to make a stack of paper six feet tall. Recycling approximately 1 ton of newspapers saves 17 trees. Each
ton of recycled paper saves 4 barrels of oil, and uses 58% less
water. Recycled newsprint yields an average of 73% reusable product. This is the result after the ink and moisture are removed. Sawdust and wood shavings saved from manufactured wood products are recycled into paper grocery bags, corrugated boxes and other products. |
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STEEL AND TIN Americans use enough steel and tin cans to make a steel pipe running from Los Angeles to New York AND BACK AGAIN! It takes four times as much energy to make steel from ore as it does from recycling steel scrap. For every pound of steel that is recycled, enough energy is saved to light a 60-watt light bulb for over a day. Tin and steel are sold to manufacturers who produce bicycles, automobiles, refrigerators, steel beams for construction and other materials. |
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GLASS Most bottles and jars contain at least 25% recycled glass. Glass can always be recycled - IT NEVER BREAKS DOWN IN THE LANDFILL. Making new glass from recycled glass uses 32% less of the energy needed to make glass from raw materials.
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THE BOTTOM LINE - REUSE MATERIALS
Recycling creates new jobs at recycling centers, processing companies and in the transportation industries. If you already recycle - Mother Earth thanks you!
RECYCLING REALLY WORKS . . . AND THAT'S A FACT!!!
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