What is recycling?
Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit your community, the economy and the environment.
Is recycling truly beneficial for the environment?
United States Enviromental Protection Agency data show that recycling conserves energy and natural resources. For example:
- Recycling one ton of office paper can save the energy equivalent of consuming 322 gallons of gasoline.
- Recycling just one ton of aluminum cans conserves more than 152 million Btu, the equivalent of 1,024 gallons of gasoline or 21 barrels of oil consumed.
- Plastic bottles are the most recycled plastic product in the United States as of 2018, according to our most recent report. Recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours.
How does recycling save energy?
When we make new products out of virgin materials, we expend energy to extract and process those materials. This includes burning fossil fuels. However, if we manufacture products using recycled materials, we reduce the need for virgin materials and save the energy required to extract and process them.
To estimate how much energy you can save by recycling certain products, EPA has developed a tool called the individual Waste Reduction Model (iWARM). This tool calculates how much energy you save by recycling aluminum cans, glass or plastic bottles, magazines or plastic grocery bags, and shows you how long those savings could power different electrical appliances.
Is recycling the best management option? What other options are there?
The most effective way to reduce waste, and the most environmentally preferred strategy, is to not create it in the first place. Source reduction, along with material reuse, are the most functional ways to save natural resources, protect the environment and save money. Making a new product requires a lot of materials and energy, from extracting raw materials to fabricating the product to transporting it to the place of purchase.
Plastic Bags, Wrap (film) and Sacks
Are paper or plastic shopping bags better for the environment? How about reusable bags versus disposal bags?
EPA does not have information on the environmental benefits of paper versus plastic bags. The Agency encourages consumers to:
- Reduce the number of bags they use,
- Reduce the number of bags they throw away after one use,
- Reuse bags, and
- Recycle bags when they can no longer be used.
Consumers also can reduce waste by using reusable shopping bags.
Can I recycle plastic bags and wrap/film? If so, how and where?
First, be sure to cut off the zippers (if necessary).
Many grocery and department stores will accept plastic bags and wrap/film. Please ask your local grocery and department store.
