There is a crisis in America due to confusion surrounding how to properly recycle, as well as a disconnect from the importance of it. To help clear up this issue and shed light on just how important recycling is, here are three facts that help highlight the power behind it.
Saving Glass
On average, 80% of what Americans throw away is able to be recycled, yet the recycling rate in the country is only 28%. To put this into a grander perspective, each month the amount of recyclable glass bottles that are thrown away equals an amount capable of filling up a skyscraper as large as the Empire State Building. When put into perspective, it’s incredible to visualize just how much waste is accumulated, and this is only glass waste, not including all of the other recyclable materials.
While you may not think that recycling glass is as significant as plastics, it can have a significant impact on sustainability. For example, the energy cost of recycling glass is much less than creating new glass, and the air pollution and water pollution associated with creating new glass are also reduced by 20% and 50% respectively. Recycling glass also reduces the amount that can fill up landfills, which also benefits the environment greatly.
Saving Trees
While paper recycling has increased over 89% since 1990, as of 2010, and nearly one-third of new paper is made with recycled material, there is still a long way to go. If every single newspaper was recycled, we could save over 250 million trees each and every year. To put this into another perspective, the average American uses approximately 650 pounds of paper and paper products every year. This equates to 100 million tons of wood that could otherwise be saved if all of that was recycled after use. This is a substantial amount that can help us save our forests and put a stop to mass deforestation.
Saving Aluminum
Everyone is familiar with aluminum cans, and you probably toss at least one away each week. However, across the nation, it only takes three months’ worth of aluminum waste to equal the same amount it would take to build an entire commercial air fleet. This, coupled with the fact that the average person will use approximately 25,000 aluminum cans in their lifetime, makes this material one that everyone should try their best to recycle. Even a single can might save enough energy to power a television set for three hours, and recycling a can uses 95% less energy and water than making a new one.
What Can You Do?
When it comes to recycling on your own, there are a lot of things that you can do. For example, take note of the materials that can be recycled when you use them by looking at the various symbols printed on them. If you are recycling a can or bottle, make sure to rinse it before putting it into the bin to avoid contaminating anything else. If your curbside pickup trash service doesn’t offer recycling, you may consider looking for stores or other local places that allow the public to bring in their recycling.
When it comes to sustainability and recycling, the process only works if everyone is willing to do their part. If you currently aren’t recycling as much as you would like, keep these facts in mind so that you can be motivated to properly recycle the things you use in the future.
