Recycled materials are used to make new products, reducing the need to extract and process raw materials. This helps protect the environment and conserves natural resources. For example, recycling paper conserves timber and reduces deforestation, and recycled metal conserves finite mining resources. It also reduces the need to import raw materials from abroad, saving on transportation costs and lowering global energy consumption.
When materials are recycled, they are not disposed of in landfills or incinerators, where they can leach chemicals into the ground and water. This reduces pollution in the air and water and limits the need to devote land to waste disposal.
Recycling is the third step in the waste reduction hierarchy and contributes to environmental sustainability. It can help reduce the need to harvest and mine raw materials from increasingly scarce natural resources, such as petroleum, coal, natural gas, iron and steel scrap, aluminum cans, wood, and other ores.
The benefits of recycling are far-reaching. Recyclables are processed at a recovery facility, where they are sorted, cleaned, and made into new products. For instance, metals like aluminum are reused to make new aluminum products, and glass is recycled into new containers. Paper and plastic are recycled into new paper and other products, and even cars are made with recovered plastic and steel.
To reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, more people are starting to recycle. This is good news for the environment, but it’s important to be informed about how to properly recycle items.