10 Good Reasons to Recycle

You can make a difference!

1. It takes 75,000 trees each week to produce the Sunday edition of the New York Times.
   
   
2. If Americans recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save 25 million trees a year.
   
   
3. Recycling and Reusing the material in "tin" cans reduces energy use by 74 percent, air pollution by 85 percent, solid waste by 95 percent, and water pollution by 76 percent.
   
   
4. It takes 95 percent less energy to make aluminum by recycling it than by producing it from its natural ore, bauxite. It costs less, too.
   
   
5. The average American uses 580 pounds of paper each year. As a nation, we consume 850 million trees annually.
   
   
6. In 1991, the Great Wall of China became the second largest man-made structure in the world. The largest was Fresh Kills Landfill, serving New York City. It is now the highest point on the east coast.
   
   
7. Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour!
   
   
8. For every glass bottle recycled, we save enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours.
   
   
9. Every year, Americans throw away enough office and writing paper to build a wall 12 feet high from New York to Los Angeles.
   
   
10. In one year, American steel recycling saves enough energy to heat and light 18 million homes. One pound of recycled steel saves enough energy to light a 60 watt bulb for 24 hours.
    
    

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