Trash is never “thrown away.” It’s only moved from one place (our homes and businesses) to another (landfills or incinerators).   You have the power to choose:  will you trash that item or recycle it?

Before you decide, read the following “Benefits of Recycling” and think about this question: Where will your trash do the most good for future generations? In a landfill? Or at a recycling facility?

 

Recycling creates jobs

Recycling creates new, well-paying jobs and promotes economic development in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States.

Recycling reduces pollution

Pollution from landfills — including cyanide, dioxins, mercury, methane, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and lead — escapes into the air and leaches into groundwater. In 2012, Americans recycled 87 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW), eliminating the equivalent of emissions from more than 33 million passenger vehicles. Making products from already refined waste materials reduces — and often avoids altogether — the need for manufacturers to use toxic chemicals, essential when using virgin materials. Municipal waste incinerators spew out all kinds of air pollutants, and are often located in urban neighborhoods. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to incinerators.

Recycling saves energy

The 87 million tons of MSW Americans recycled in 2012 saved the equivalent of energy consumed by almost 10 million U.S. households in one year.

Recycling conserves resources

Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, minerals and water. Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4100 kilowatt hours of electricity, enough energy to power the average American home for five months. Turning trees into paper is the most water- intensive industrial process in the United States. Paper recycling mills nearly always use less water and they don’t pollute the water nearly as much. Recycling also protects wildlife habitat and biodiversity because it lessens the need to mine, extract or harvest virgin materials.

This is a public service announcement brought to you by Sunnyvale Garden Club.

Sources: U.S. EPA website and readyrecyles.com