If you’re not sure why you should start recycling your trash, keep reading. Here are some of the benefits of recycling. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Less waste means less energy consumption and landfill overflow. And recycling saves money! What’s not to like? There are so many other benefits of recycling as well. Continue reading to learn more about these benefits and check out how you can get started today!
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
Reducing the amount of waste we produce can help us to keep the planet safe. Currently, landfills account for 90 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the waste industry. Recycling waste will help us avoid contributing to these emissions by reducing the amount of material that goes to landfills. By using reusable materials, we can also reduce the amount of methane that is released into the atmosphere. The Association of Recyclers of reports that it is preventing 208,641 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually from landfills through recycling.
Besides recycling, there are other ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Using less energy to produce items reduces the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the environment. One way to do this is to buy products that require less packaging. You can also buy secondhand goods to avoid unnecessary packaging. And don’t forget to reuse the things that you already own. This way, they are not going to end up in the waste stream. By using energy-efficient appliances, you can also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere.
Minimizes energy costs
In addition to minimizing your carbon footprint, recycling metals can minimize energy costs. For example, aluminum cans made from recycled scraps use 95 percent less energy than raw aluminum. Steel products made from recycled iron require only 75 percent less energy to produce than raw iron. All of these factors make recycling a powerful way to reduce your energy costs. Recycling also reduces the environmental impact of your reusable items and disposable packaging. And recycling can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the materials you use.
For example, recycling soda cans can save 21,000 kilowatt hours of energy. One ton of recycled PET plastic containers can save 7,200 kilowatt hours. And one glass bottle can save enough energy to run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. In addition, the Steel Recycling Institute estimates that recycling one ton of steel cans saves enough energy to power 18 million homes for a year.
Minimizes landfill overflow
In many places, recycling can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill, thus minimizing overflow. In the past, landfills were known as “dump sites” and were essentially open pits. Leachate (water from the waste) from these sites often contaminated nearby water tables and can lead to serious health problems. Many of these sites are in poor countries. Today, landfills are usually closed off to prevent seepage, with expensive methods to contain methane.
To process garbage, waste processors must find other locations for recycling materials. In some cities, exporting waste to other states is already creating massive landfill pile-ups. For example, is a prime example of what the future holds. The state ships huge amounts of waste to other states, leaving little space for the waste that remains. In addition to reducing overflow at landfills, recycling reduces the amount of land needed for waste storage.
Saves money
Recyclable materials are free from landfills, which means you will be paying less for them. Additionally, recycling reduces fossil fuels, which is valuable for our economy. Recycling will not only save you money on materials, it will increase your economy by creating jobs. The benefits of recycling are widely known, but there are also many other benefits to consider. Recycling will improve our environment by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main cause of global warming. You will also reduce pollution in our air and water. At 30%, you will be able to save enough energy to take 30 million cars off the road!
Not only will recycling improve the environment, but it will also save you money. Most recycled materials are far cheaper than virgin materials, and the savings can add up over the year. Many collection depots pay for the containers that consumers return. The difference in cost can be substantial! You can also save energy and money on manufacturing costs by recycling. Recycling saves manufacturing facilities thousands of litres of water and kilowatts of energy.