Who benefits from AUTOMATED SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING?
We all do. Every ton of disposables recycled is a ton of material that does not have to be disposed of as trash. Automated single stream recycling is helping to recover and re-use valuable materials. Many communities have increased their recycling volumes by as much as 30% within a year of beginning their automated single stream recycling programs. Working together, we can make a difference.
PLASTIC BOTTLES TAKE 700 YEARS TO BEGIN DECOMPOSING IN LANDFILLS (earth911.0rg).
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What CAN be recycled through the new automated single stream system? |
What is NOT recyclable in the new automated single stream system. |
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Paper (newspaper, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, envelopes)
Clean cardboard and boxboard
Paper egg cartons
Office and school papers
Aluminum cans can clean foil
Empty tin and steel aerosol cans
All plastic containers (#1 through #7)
Aseptic packaging (gable top milk and juice containers)
Shredded paper in paper bags |
Garbage
Plastic bags
Food tainted items (used paper plates or boxes, paper towels or paper napkins)
Polystyrene or Styrofoam
Motor oil bottles
Hazardous chemical containers
Electronics or batteries
Foam egg cartons
Light bulbs
Pizza boxes
Mirrors or window glass |
RECYCLING FACTS:
· One study says Americans throw away 44% of the bulk mail unopened, yet still spend eight months per lifetime opening bulk mail.
· If we recycled every plastic bottle we used, we would keep two billion tons of plastic out of the trash.
· New plastic is made from petroleum, so using recycled plastic products reduces our dependency on imported oil.
· The aluminum can is 100% recyclable and can be used to make new beverage cans indefinitely.
· Four pounds of bauxite are saved for every pound of aluminum recycled.
· Enough aluminum is thrown away to rebuild the entire fleet of commercial jet air liners four times every year.
· Last year, Americans recycled enough aluminum cans to conserve the energy equivalent of more than 15 million barrels of oil.
· Recycled glass generates 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution.
· Glass can be reused an infinite number of times; over 41 billion glass containers are made each year.
· Recycled paper saves 60% energy compared to the production of virgin paper.
· Recycling of each ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7000 gallons of water.
· When you shop, make sure you look for the “recycled” symbol on items you buy. Buying recycled products saves precious natural resources – buying recycled products is good for the environment.
These are just some of the reasons to recycle; maybe the question should be, “How can I recycle more?”