Fun Recycling Facts:recycleblog

In order to help people realize the importance of recycling, here are some interesting facts about recycling various materials such as aluminum, glass, and paper. Also be sure to check out the links to some useful websites and resources on recycling.

Aluminum cans:

Used aluminum cans can be recycled and returned to store shelves in as little as 60 days.

Between 100,000-200,000 cans are recycled every minute in America.

24 years ago a pound of aluminum made 21 12-ounce cans, today through source reduction technology that same pound of aluminum makes 31 cans.

The energy saved when 1 aluminum can is recycled can power a TV for 2-3 hours.

Aluminum can be recycled endlessly.

Glass:

The energy saved from recycling glass bottles can power a 100 watt bulb for 4 hours.

Recycling glass bottles reduces air pollution 20% and water pollution 50% compared to producing a new bottle.

Glass bottles take over 4000 years to decompose and much longer if in a landfill; you might as well recycle them.

Paper:

Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.

The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year.

Construction costs of a paper mill designed to use waste paper are 50 to 80% less than the cost of a mill using new pulp.

Other Facts:

About one-third of an average dump is made up of packaging material. We should strive to recycle more packaging, and buy products with less packaging. Also consider using packaging that is flexible instead of rigid. For more information on the benefits of flexible packaging check out the Flexible Packaging Association.

The EPA estimates that 75% of the trash Americans throws away could be recycled.

To find centers to drop of your recycling items try Earth911.