| Opportunities |
For recycling to work, everyone has to participate in each phase of the loop. From government and industry, to organizations, small businesses, and people at home, every American can make recycling a part of their daily routine. Below are some ways in which businesses, local governments, and citizens can get involved:
BENEFITS OF RECYCLING
The alternative to recycling is waste, but that’s not necessarily how it feels at the individual level. Recycling at home or work generally involves expending additional time, space, effort and even money. Low disposal fees make throwing everything in the trash inexpensive, as well as easy. So it helps to consider the big picture. Recycling contributes directly to environmental, public and economic health in America and beyond:
Saving natural resources and natural areas
Making products with recycled material slows the depletion of non-renewable resources such as metal, oil and natural gas, and reduces the encroachment of new mining and drilling operations. Conserving renewable resources through recycling also helps preserve undisturbed land and natural diversity by reducing the amount of land needed for agriculture and timber production.
Saving energy
It generally takes less energy to make products with recycled materials than virgin materials, often significantly less. It takes 20 times more energy to make aluminum from bauxite ore than using recycled aluminum. Benefits of reduced energy consumption include reduced costs and reduced dependence on foreign suppliers.
Reducing pollution
Using less energy also means generating less air and water pollution, and recycling reduces other forms of pollution as well: Runoff from mining operations and farms, soil erosion and the toxic chemicals released when raw materials are processed.
Conserving landfill space
America won’t run out of landfill space any time soon, but conserving landfill space now will help put off the need to build new or expanded landfills.
