Recycling Statistics & Facts
 In
1993, Americans recycled 59.5 billion aluminum cans, 3 billion more than in
1991, and raised the national aluminum can recycling rate to 2 out of every
3 cans. Aluminum can recycling saves 95% of the energy needed to make
aluminum from bauxite ore. Energy savings in 1993 alone were enough to light
a city the size of Pittsburgh for six years.
Source: Can Manufacturing Institute
In America, 1,500 aluminum cans are recycled every second. In 1989,
Americans used 80 billion aluminum cans. We recycled 60% of aluminum cans in
1989. Making cans from recycled aluminum cuts related air pollution (for
example, sulfur dioxides, which create acid rain) by 95%. Americans throw
away enough aluminum every three months to rebuild our entire commercial air
fleet. A quarter of all aluminum goes into packaging. The all-aluminum can
was introduced in 1964. A paper grocery sack holds about 1.5 pounds of empty
aluminum cans.
Source: EarthWorks Group's- The Recycler's Handbook
By Recycling 1 ton of paper you save:
· 17 trees
· 6953 gallons of water
· 463 gallons of oil
· 587 pounds of air pollution
· 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space
· 4077 Kilowatt hours of energy
Source: Weyerhauser info
In 1996, 42.3 million tons of paper were recycled in America.
Source: "Recycling and Buy Recycled Fact Sheets"
America Recycles Day
In the manufacturing process of Recycled Paper:
· 74% Less air pollution is generated
· 35% Less water pollution is generated
· 58% Less water is required
· 64% Less energy is required
· 31 billion gallons of water could be saved every month by installing water
efficiency shower heads in our homes.
Source: Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
Americans throw away enough glass bottles and
jars every two weeks to fill the 1.350-foot towers of the World Trade
Center.
· Most bottles and jars contain at least 25% recycled glass.
· Glass never wears out -- it can be recycled forever. We save over a ton of
resources for every ton of glass recycled -- 1,330 pounds of sand, 433
pounds of soda ash, 433 pounds of limestone, and 151 pounds of feldspar.
· A ton of glass produced from raw materials created 384 pounds of mining
waste. Using 50% recycled glass cuts it by about 75%.
· We get 27.8 pounds of air pollution for every ton of new glass produced.
· Recycling glass reduces that pollution by 14-20%.
· Recycling glass saves 25-32% of the energy used to make glass. Glass makes
up about 8% of American municipal garbage. About 75% of America's glass is
used for packaging. The average American can save six pounds of glass in a
month. As late as 1947, virtually 100% of all beverage bottles were
returnable. Every day, Americans recycle about 13 million glass jars and
bottles. Germany recycles almost 40% of its glass. States with bottle
deposit laws have 35-40% less litter by volume.
Source: The Earth Works Group Recycler's Handbook |
