EASY GUIDE TO RECYCLING
Recycling saves energy, thus reducing acid rain, global warming and air pollution.
Recycling aluminum uses 95 percent less energy than producing aluminum products from raw materials. Recycling paper uses 60 percent less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin fiber. Recycling a glass jar saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.
Recycling conserves valuable natural resources. 75,000 trees are used for the Sunday edition of the New York Times each week, yet only 30 percent of the newspaper is recycled in the United States. Recycling metals minimizes the need for mining new minerals and decreases damage to wilderness.
Recycling cuts down on landfill. The average American throws away four pounds of garbage per day. By 1999, half the cities in the U.S. will run out of landfill space. By recycling it is possible to cut our waste stream by 80 percent.What You Can DoPurchase and consume according to the 3 "R's": Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Reduce the amount of garbage you generated by purchasing products with minimal packaging (about half of all waste is in packaging).- Purchase foods in bulk.
- "Recycle" by purchasing products in recyclable containers, such as disposable diapers, lighters, razors, and plastic utensils.
- Use white paper - it is easier to recycle than colored paper.
- Bring your own paper bags, or better yet, cloth bags, to the supermarket.
- Use a coffee mug rather than Styrofoam cups.
Reuse is the most efficient form of recycling, requiring no new natural resources or energy.- Use products that are made to be used many times, such as cloth diapers, cloth napkins, towels and rags, sponges, dishes and silverware, rechargeable batteries, etc.
- Use the blank sides of paper to take notes and do scratch work.
- Mend clothes and repair broken appliances.
- Take care of belongings to help them last longer.
- Look into purchasing used goods at second hand stores and junk yards to eliminate unnecessary production.
Recycle as many materials as possible. Many communities have established programs to recycle aluminum, steel, glass, newspaper, and cardboard. It is also possible to recycle magazines, colored paper, wood, oil, solvents, and some plastics.- Support a bottle bill (including plastics) that establishes a deposit on beverage containers.
- Help establish and promote a curbside recycling program.
- Organize a recycling program at your school, office, apartment building, churches, etc.
- Recycle food scraps and yard trimmings by creating a compost pile. (Food wastes and yard debris make up about One-third of the waste stream.)
How To Recycle- Separate cans, bottles, newspapers, and white paper.Glass: Remove lids and labels from bottles and jars and rinse out well. (Some recycling centers ask that you separate glass by color.)Cans: Remove labels and rinse well. (Most recycling centers ask that you separate aluminum from other metals.)Newspaper: Tie newspapers into bundles or put them in a paper bag. White paper should go into a separate container.
- Contact your local or state recycling division to find out if your community has a curbside recycling program. If so, put out your recyclables the night before the scheduled pickup. If no curbside pickup exists, take your cans, bottles, and papers to the nearest drop-off site.
- Used motor oil and car batteries can often be recycled at service stations.
| Recycling does not work unless there are markets for the new products. Part of being a recycler is purchasing products made from recycled materials, such as recycled white office paper. When shopping, look for the recycling symbol (three arrows forming a triangle), indicating that the packaging was made from recycled materials, Check with companies you do business with to see if they use recycled products. If not, encourage them to do so.Written by: Utah State University Energy Web
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