The Green Energy Council Reduce , Reuse, Recycle Initiative
Today the US recycles about 20% of its glass,40% of its paper,
50% of its aluminum and 60% of its steel.
Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving
the environment.
Reducing waste and using recycled materials in the manufacturing
of new products and packaging reduce pollution, save energy, and
conserve resources.
Waste reduction and recycling reduce energy and water use, air
and water pollution and mining wastes associated with virgin materials
production. The total environmental costs of virgin production
are 43%-518% greater than secondary production.
Recycling creates greater economic value than "throwing it
all away." Yet for years, we have ignored the tremendous
economic potential of recycling. Every ton of newspapers recycled
and every ton of aluminum saved from landfills creates jobs, expands
manufacturing, and reduces operating costs for local businesses
and households.
In order to close the loop locally, we must ensure efficient,
cost-effective recovery of materials from our waste stream.
The general public has embraced recycling for two reasons.
First, it saves energy and other resources, and second, it saves
materials by taking discarded resources from the waste stream
and turning them into valuable products.
In the U.S. today, beverage containers are designed for a single
use. Once used, two-thirds are landfilled. The remaining one-third
are reprocessed and recycled into new products. We need to do
better. The GEC is committed to help educate humanity that recycling
can help reverse the effects of Global Warming.
Not too long ago, Americans had a more efficient way of handling
used beverage containers -- we refilled them. When compared
to non-refilling systems, refilling systems contribute less
to global warming, acid rain, smog, and solid waste. Refilling
systems also use less energy and water.
While many people believe that environmental gains come with
economic sacrifices, refilling beverage containers does not
involve such trade-offs. By reusing containers multiple times,
refilling cuts the public costs of waste management, creates
jobs, and can reduce the prices of beverages. Refilling can
also cut costs for the beverage and the retail grocery industries.
Yet, in spite of the many advantages of refilling, the beer
and soft-drink industries in the U.S. have dismantled their
refilling systems. While American soft-drink companies have
replaced refillable glass bottles with single-use plastic bottles
and aluminum cans in the U.S., they have been using state-of-the-art
refillable containers in many European and Latin-American countries.
Unlike the United States, these countries have policies that
specifically require or promote refillable beverage containers
or have economic incentives to use them.
Most people think that the recycling industry is only a handful
of community groups and their local curbside recycling program.
But recycling is more than just collecting bottles and cans.
RESOURSES:
Municipal
Solid Waste
Recycle
Your Bottles & Cans
Container
Recycling
RECYCLING IS A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR
INDUSTRY!
Economic
Value | Job
Creation
Waste Reduction
and Recycling Reduce Production Impacts
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