Recycling is the process of Recycling is the process of making new products from making new products from used materials. This not used materials. This not only has many benefits for only has many benefits for the environment, but also the environment, but also for the future of the human for the future of the human race.race.

Recycling has numerous Recycling has numerous environmental benefits. environmental benefits. Recycling saves energy, Recycling saves energy, conserves natural conserves natural resources, limits pollution, resources, limits pollution, and supports several and supports several sectors of the economy. sectors of the economy.

Using recycled materials Using recycled materials rather than virgin materials rather than virgin materials in manufacturing:in manufacturing:

Releases less air and water pollutantsReleases less air and water pollutants Reduces demand on trees water and mineralsReduces demand on trees water and minerals Reduces emissions of greenhouse gasesReduces emissions of greenhouse gases Reduces the need for landfills and incineratorsReduces the need for landfills and incinerators Creates jobsCreates jobs

Extracting and processing Extracting and processing raw materials to make raw materials to make new products requires a new products requires a lot of energy. lot of energy.

Removal or reduction of Removal or reduction of these, results in an energy these, results in an energy savings. Recycled Paper savings. Recycled Paper results in an energy savings results in an energy savings of 70%.of 70%.

Recycling just half of your Recycling just half of your annual recyclable household annual recyclable household waste saves 2400 pounds of waste saves 2400 pounds of co2 being released into the co2 being released into the atmosphere. atmosphere.

Many scientists contend Many scientists contend that human released co2 that human released co2 is a leading cause of is a leading cause of global warming.global warming.

Recycling creates a net gain Recycling creates a net gain in jobs of 5 to 1 over landfill in jobs of 5 to 1 over landfill management.management.

Making a ton of paper from Making a ton of paper from recycled stock saves 17 recycled stock saves 17 trees and uses 50% less trees and uses 50% less water than making paper water than making paper from virgin fiber.from virgin fiber.

If every household in the If every household in the United States replaced just United States replaced just one package of virgin one package of virgin napkins with 100% recycled napkins with 100% recycled ones we could save 1 ones we could save 1 million trees.million trees.

Approximately 1 billion trees Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S. away every year in the U.S.

The amount of wood and The amount of wood and paper we throw away each paper we throw away each year is enough to heat year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 50,000,000 homes for 20 years. years.

The U.S. accounts for 5% of The U.S. accounts for 5% of the world’s population but is the world’s population but is responsible for 46% of the responsible for 46% of the world’s trash. We recycle at world’s trash. We recycle at a rate of about 28%. There is a rate of about 28%. There is much room for much room for improvement. improvement.

It has always been thought It has always been thought that the future of our world that the future of our world rests on shoulders of rests on shoulders of younger generations and younger generations and the choices they make. No the choices they make. No legislation will change the legislation will change the way people live if they way people live if they don’t see the benefit. don’t see the benefit.

What will make a difference What will make a difference is a child telling a parent is a child telling a parent that the trash they threw that the trash they threw on the ground will on the ground will personally affect his or her personally affect his or her future.future.