Recycling

Definition

When a product or material, at the end of its useful life cycle, is turned into usable raw material to make another product, the process is called recycling. Products that can be recycled include metal cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, magazines and newspaper, cardboard boxes and other office waste. Recycling is an environmentally friendly option for disposing recyclable materials.

Today, recycled material is found in several products such as newspapers, paper towels, aluminum and steel cans, plastic and glass drink containers, and plastic laundry detergent bottles. Recycled materials can also be found in roadway asphalt, carpeting, park benches, and pedestrian bridges.

Facts about recycling

Recycling has grown in the past 15 years.

• Recycling of specific material such as paper has grown 52%, plastic bottles 31%, aluminum cans 45%, steel packaging 63%, and major appliances 67%.
• In 2005, 500 material recovery facilities were processing recyclable materials. Curbside recycling had 8,660 programs in 2006.
• Recycling one ton of newspaper saves 3 cubic meters of landfill area and 29,000 liters of water.
• About 32.6 jobs are supported for recycling every 10,000 tons of recyclable items.

Advantages

Products made from recycled material uses up to 95% less energy. It creates less air and water pollution and protects our natural resources. Recycling leads to reduction in the amount of trash that ends up in the landfills. Recycling also creates jobs.

Recycled Products

Purchasing products made from recyclable material completes the ‘recycling process.’ Manufacturers as well as consumers can help close the recycling loop. Today, product labels carry information on the amount and type of recycled content in the product.

Products labeled “recycled-content products” are made totally or partially from material disposed or recovered through industrial process such as aluminum soda cans and newspaper. Products labeled “post-consumer content” is made from material that was already used by consumers.

There are over 4,500 recycled-content products available today, such as car bumpers, motor oil, laundry detergent bottles, trash bags, comic books, etc.

Reference