FACTS AND FIGURES

Aluminum

    ¤ Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy needed to produce new metal from raw materials.  Thus, other emissions such as greenhouse gas emissions are also avoided when aluminum is recycled.

    ¤ Recycling aluminum cans conserves the energy equivalent of 1 gallon of gas.

    ¤ Recycling 1 aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours or a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours.

Plastic

    ¤ Recycling 1 ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 1,000 - 2,000 gallons of gas.

    ¤ A one gallon plastic milk container that weighed 120 grams in the 60's now weighs just 65 grams.

    ¤ Products made from recovered plastic bottles include drainage pipes, toys, carpet, filler for pillows and sleeping bags.

Paper

    ¤ One ton of recycled paper saves 4100 kw hours of electricity (enough to heat a home for 6 months or run a television for 31 hours)

    ¤ Enough paper is collected for recycling each year to make a box-car train 7,600 miles long.

    ¤ One ton of recycled paper uses:  64% less energy, 50% less water, 74% less air pollution and creates 5 times more jobs than one ton of paper products from virgin wood pulp.

Glass

    ¤ Recycled glass could be made into household insulation.

    ¤ Recycling 2 bottles saves enough energy to boil water for 5 cups of tea.

    ¤ Producing one ton of new glass creates 27.8 lbs of air pollution, while processing recycled glass produces 14 - 20 % less air pollution.  In addition, glass can be recycled forever and it never decomposes.

Tin/Steel/Metal

    ¤ One pound of recycled steel saves 5.450 BTU's of energy or 26 hours of a 60 watt bulb