why recycle?

• Recycling conserves natural resources.

  Recycling a four-foot stack of newspapers saves the equivalent of one 40-foot fir tree.

  One ton of recycled paper saves 3,700 pounds of lumber and 24,000 gallons of water.

  If everyone in the U.S. recycled just 1/10 of their newsprint, we would save the estimated equivalent of about 25 million trees a year.
  

• Recycling slows the growth of landfills.

  In this decade, it is projected that Americans will throw away over 1 million tons of aluminum cans and foil, more than 11 million tons of glass bottles and jars, over 4 and a half million tons of office paper and nearly 10 million tons of newspaper. Almost all of this material could be recycled.

• Recycling saves energy.

  Recycling one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.

  You can make 20 recycled aluminum cans with the energy it takes to make one new aluminum can from bauxite ore.

  Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours.

  Annually, enough energy is saved by recycling steel to supply Los Angeles with electricity for almost 10 years.

  Recycled paper saves 60% energy vs. virgin paper.

• Recycling reduces pollution.

  Recycling all of your home's waste newsprint, cardboard, glass, and metal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 850 pounds a year.

  Recycled glass generates 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution.

• Recycling begins with you.

  Large changes happen because of many small changes. You have to recycle one bottle, can, or newspaper before you can recycle a ton. Will you be a part of the problem or a part of the solution?

Please recycle - you make the difference!