Beyond the Bin: Understanding the Environmental Benefits of Recycling
Recycling is a simple action we can take in our daily lives to protect the planet. But just how good for the environment is recycling? This blog explores the environmental benefits of recycling and how you can manage your waste as sustainably as possible.
What Are Benefits Of Recycling?
While recycling isn’t as good for the environment as the first two Rs – reducing and reusing – it’s a far better option than putting your waste in the trash and, for most materials, has significant recycling environmental benefits. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, cuts down on air and water pollution, conserves natural resources, saves energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
As trash decomposes in landfills, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas with global warming potential about 85 times higher than carbon dioxide. In 2020, methane emissions from U.S. landfills were equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from driving about 20.3 million cars for a year.
Keeping recyclable items out of the trash can limit these emissions. About 20 million tons of household recyclables are thrown in the trash in the United States each year. If all those materials were recycled instead, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 96 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to taking more than 20 million cars off U.S. highways.
Making a product from recycled materials almost always requires less energy than making the same product from new materials. Using recycled aluminum cans to make new ones uses 95% less energy than using raw materials. For steel it’s about 70% energy savings, and each ton of paper made from recycled paper saves up to 17 trees and uses 50% less water.
These recycling environmental benefits extend beyond the materials we typically recycle curbside to other items such as clothing and electronics. Textile recycling limits the need to create more landfill space, reduces pollution created by incinerators, and saves the environment from harsh chemicals and waste products from the textile manufacturing process.
Recycling also has economic benefits. It helps create green jobs, supports American manufacturing, and increases economic security by tapping into a domestic source of materials. According to the U.S. EPA, there are 1.17 jobs, $65,230 in wages, and $9,420 in tax revenues attributable to every 1,000 tons of recyclables collected and recycled.
One of a larger puzzle
While keeping materials in circulation through recycling is an important and beneficial component of our waste management system, it is just one piece in a larger puzzle
While recycling offers benefits, it demands material inputs, energy, and expenses. The most impactful conservation and environmental protection methods involve waste prevention and material reuse through avenues like donation and upcycling. Prioritizing reduction and reuse before recycling maximizes resource utilization and minimizes environmental impact. By managing waste sustainably, individuals and organizations can optimize material usage, minimize resource depletion, and promote eco-friendly practices. Embracing the benefits of recycling while prioritizing waste prevention and reuse ensures a more sustainable approach to resource management and environmental stewardship.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the environmental benefits of recycling illuminates its crucial role in protecting our planet. Recycling significantly reduces waste sent to landfills, curtails air and water pollution, conserves natural resources, saves energy, and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, combating climate change. By diverting recyclables from landfills, we effectively reduce methane emissions, equivalent to taking millions of cars off the road annually. Moreover, recycling requires less energy than producing new materials, fostering sustainability and resource conservation. Beyond traditional curbside recycling, initiatives like textile and electronic recycling further extend environmental benefits, while also bolstering economic growth and job creation. However, while recycling plays a vital role, it’s only one aspect of a comprehensive waste management strategy. Prioritizing waste prevention and reuse complements recycling efforts, maximizing environmental protection. Let’s continue to embrace recycling alongside reducing and reusing, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
Partner with us
Working with recycling and charitable partners across the United States and internationally, SwagCycle helps companies and organizations reduce their waste while supporting charitable causes. Learn more about how SwagCycle can help your company or organization repurpose, recycle, and donate your obsolete branded merchandise.