Recycling is one of the easiest things you can do to help the environment. Natural resources like wood and fresh water and raw materials like oil and iron ore are all required to make new packaging that we use and throw out. Making products and packaging from recycled materials uses less of these resources.
The recycling process has many benefits including:• Protecting natural habitats by reducing the amount of raw materials being extracted from the environment.• Reducing the air and water pollution that is generated through the extraction, refinement and processing of raw materials.• Saving energy used in the extraction, refining, transportation and processing of raw materials into products and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.• Decreasing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill and reducing the need for new waste disposal facilities.• Helping communities and the economy by encouraging innovation and creating jobs in the recycling industry.
To help save precious resources, check that you are recycling as much of your household waste as you can. Every time you get it right you are making a difference.
Here are some of the savings generated by recycling the everyday items from your house:1) Glass• Glass can be recycled indefinitely.• Glass made from recycled materials requires only 40% of the energy needed to make glass from sand.• Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for four hours, or a fluorescent bulb for 20 hours.2) Paper• Paper and cardboard products made from recycled material conserves trees, and their production uses up to 50% less energy and 90% less water than making them from raw materials.• Recycling one tonne of paper saves three cubic meters of landfill space.3) Plastic• Producing plastics from recycled materials saves approximately 88% of the energy required to make plastic from the raw materials of oil and gas.• The energy saved by recycling one plastic drink bottle would power a computer for 25 minutes.
