“Recycling means more material to collect.”

FACT: The same amount of waste is generated as with an all-disposal system. That waste is just separated into useful categories that can be reprocessed into usable goods.

“Not recycling is cheaper than recycling.”

FACT: Recycling should always be compared against disposal, since the material still must be transported off campus. Not recycling means paying for more disposal.

“Since we have plenty of landfills, recycling isn’t important.”

FACT: Recycling has many more benefits than reduced landfill use, the chief of which are the conservation of natural resources (trees, oil, minerals, etc.), reduced energy consumption, and the pollution and environmental impact associated with them (clear-cutting, oil drilling, mining, burning coal to melt steel, etc.). By recycling, you are conserving natural resources and reducing the amount of pollution and greenhouse gasses released into the environment. Also the impact of landfills is greater than simply the space they take up. As organic matter (anything that was once living) breaks down in a landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By reducing the amount of organic material sent to the landfill, by composting, paper recycling, etc., you are helping to reduce greenhouse gasses.

“Recycling bins are ugly and cannot fit into the local aesthetic.”

FACT: Recycling bins, which are the same as trash bins, come in every shape, style, and color and can fit into nearly any aesthetic scheme.

“Facilities Management staff go through the trash and pull out the recyclables before they reach the landfill.”

Anything thrown into the trashcan will end up in the landfill. The labor required to sort through trash after it has already been mixed is prohibitive and so almost never happens. The only feasible way of separating recyclables is “source separation”, meaning each person separates their trash at the time they throw it away. The only effort here is the difference between throwing trash into one bin or another.

“Only white paper is recyclable.”

FACT: Just about any type of paper is technically recyclable, including envelopes, post-it notes, colored paper, newspaper, and magazines. Some universal restrictions are waxy or thermal paper (for older fax machines), laminated paper, and food-stained paper. However, different recycling companies require different mixes and restrictions. Make sure to check with your recycling program to find what is recyclable in your program.

“Incineration is safe these days and you can burn it for the electricity.”

FACT: Incineration still produces emission including air pollutants and greenhouse gasses. While it is true that some incinerators also produce electricity, it is not without impact. Recycling the material, or reusing or reducing its use, will save electricity and is a much more efficient way of handling the material.

“It’s OK to throw something away as long as it’s biodegradable.”

FACT: Biodegradable waste breaks down into methane in the landfill, if at all. It is usually released into the atmosphere, where it is a potent greenhouse gas. Some landfills are actually big, sealed storage bins, which make the decomposition of any biodegradable substance impossible once the landfill has been sealed up. A better solution is to recycle the material, or even better, reuse it or reduce its use altogether. Non-biodegradable waste does not produce methane, but it also will not break down in the landfill, thus using more space. Composting biodegradable material is an effective option.

Fun Facts:

• One ton of paper made completely from recycled scrap saves 7000 gallons of water, 4100 kilowatt-hours of energy, three cubic yards of landfill space, and 17 trees
• Each year, the United States uses 85.5 million tons of paper, of which we recycle only 22%, or 19 million tons. Of the remaining paper, we could recycle up to 70% or 46 million tons. And those 46 million tons could save 782 million trees.
• Recycling 1 ton of glass saves the equivalent in energy of 10 gallons of oil.
• Americans represent only 5% of the world’s population, but generate 30% of the world’s garbage.
• We can really accomplish a lot when we all pull together and recycle! During WWII, salvaging metal straps from corsets saved enough metal to build 2 warships.
• Every individual in the United States produces an average of 4.3 lbs. of garbage every day!
• Producing a soda can from recycled aluminum uses 96% less energy than manufacturing a can from ore and produces 95% less air pollution and 97% less water pollution.
• Over a ton of resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled:
  • -1,330 lbs. of sand
  • -433 lbs. of soda ash
  • -433 lbs. of limestone
  • -151 lbs. of feldspar
• Every ton of paper recycled saves enough energy to heat and air condition the average American home for at least six months.
• Americans use four million plastic bottles every hour, yet only one out of four is recycled.
• 1 ton of aluminum saves the equivalent in energy of 2,350 gallons of gasoline. This is equivalent to the amount of electricity used by the typical home over a period of 10 years!
• The average American uses 650 lbs. of paper a year.
• One ton of paper from recycled pulp saves 17 trees, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 7000 gallons of water, 4200 kWh (enough to heat your home fore half a year), 390 gallons of oil, and prevents 60 pounds of air pollution.
• More than half of plastic containers still go straight into landfills or incinerators.
• Glass never wears out — it can be recycled forever! Bad news: Americans throw away enough glass bottles and jars every two weeks to fill the 1,350-foot towers of the World Trade Center. Good news: Americans recycled enough glass last year to fill New Jersey’s Giants Stadium more than 3 ½ times.
• In 1993, for the first time in history, more paper was recovered for recycling in the United States than was landfilled.
• The energy saved from recycling aluminum in 1993 alone was enough to light a city the size of Pittsburgh for six years.
• “Tin” cans (like those used for tuna and soup) are actually 99% steel. Americans throw away enough steel every year to build all the new cars made in America.

Tags: aluminium, environment, glass, green, landfills, recycling