Recycling reduces the need for refining, mining, quarrying, and processing raw materials, creating substantial water and air pollution. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, experts argue that recycling also saves energy, reduces greenhouse emissions, and helps tackle climate change.
However, it must be noted that not all materials can be recycled. Here are the things you can (and should) send to recycling organizations to save the environment.
Beverage and Food Cans
Beverage and food cans are made of Aluminum derived from Bauxite ore. Steel and Aluminum can be recycled easily, and recycling provides a host of environmental benefits.
However, many beverage and food cans often end up in landfills, which is not a good thing. You can reduce the raw materials needed to make new beverage and food cans by sending beverage and food cans to recycling organizations.
The used beverage and food cans are recycled and made into new cans. These cans are refilled with beverages and food items and put back on the shelves of food stores.
Glass Bottles and Jars
When making new products, recycling glass is substituted for 95% of raw materials. Recycling benefits the environment in many ways, like reducing the consumption of raw materials and emissions. It also saves energy and extends the furnace’s life.
Glass bottles and jars are 100% recyclable, and they can be recycled endlessly without any loss of purity and quality.
According to US EPA data, in 2018, 39.6% of beer and soft drink bottles were sent for recycling. It is estimated that several thousand tons of resources can be saved every year by recycling and reusing all glass bottles.
Plastic Jars
Plastics are a non-biodegradable material, and a large number of plastic items end in landfills every year. Plastic bags and jars are causing a significant pollution hazard, and they can be seen polluting oceans.
When you recycle items such as plastic jars, you can help reduce the amount of plastic that gets accumulated in landfills and sea fills, thus helping control the environmental damage caused by such landfills and sea fills.
The more people recycle plastics, the better it is for the world. Recycling plastic jars and bags reduces dependence on finite resources like water, wood, coal, petroleum, and natural gas. By recycling plastic instead of manufacturing plastic of the same grade, you can reduce the plastic footprint on dumpsites.
Paper
To manufacture new paper, the manufacturer needs to cut trees that reduce the green cover on the earth. Paper can be 100% recycled, and sending the paper for recycling reduces the need to cut trees for raw materials. Recycling paper also reduces air pollution that is caused by incineration.
Cardboard
Cardboard boxes are mainly used for packaging and shipping items. Cardboard is a generic term used for heavy-duty-based paper products. The environmental benefits of recycling cardboard are similar to that of paper.
According to estimates, sending one ton of cardboard for recycling can save over nine cubic yards of landfill space. Recycling cardboard promotes a cleaner environment.
Food Boxes
Most food containers are made of paperboard. Cereals, cake mix boxes, and paper egg cartons can be sent for recycling. You can also send cartons used for milk, broth, wine cartons, drink boxes, used coffee cups for recycling.
To sum up, these are some items that you must always look to recycle. Every single step counts.
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