Recycling saves natural resources like minerals, water and timber. By decreasing the need to extract and process virgin materials, recycling helps reduce or eliminate pollution associated with those activies.
Recycling saves energy. Studies show that less energy is needed to make products made from recovered materials than from virgin materials. The energy saved from recycling one aluminum can will run a computer for three hours. The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. Recycling two gallons of used motor oil saves enough energy to run the average household for 24 hours. Each year, steel recycling saves about 76 percent of the energy needed to make steel from iron ore.
Recycling reduces the need to build expensive landfills. This helps protect the environment. |
