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Reasons America Recycles

Keene residents are doing a good job of recycling. However, to keep recycling working, we all have to buy products that are made with or packaged in recycled-content materials. You can find these products easily when you shop for groceries, hardware, auto parts, office supplies and more. Celebrate America Recycles Day on November 15th by pledging to recycle and shop for recycled products.

Did You Know . . .

The United States generates approximately 208 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) a year. That's 4.3 pounds per person per day.

The nation's overall recycling rate has grown from 11 percent to 27 percent in the past 10 years (Keene is approaching 15 percent).

There are 7,500 recycling programs in the United States and over 3,000 yard waste composting programs. (Keene has both recycling and composting programs.)

The steel industry recycled nearly 19 billion steel cans into new products; about 600 cans recycled every second.

In 1996, the average American recycled 329 pounds of paper: a 9 percent increase over 1995.

In 1996, nearly 45 million appliances were recycled, at a rate of 76.4 percent. There are more than 8,000 appliance recycling locations throughout the United States. (You can recycle appliances in Keene- many at no charge.)

Comparing the number of old automobiles taken off the road and recycled in 1996 to the number of new cars produced shows a recycling rate of 97.9 percent.

In 1996, 42.3 million tons of paper were recycled in America.

Recycling one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.

In 1996, Americans recycled 63.5 percent of the 99 billion aluminum cans produced.

In 1995, Americans recycled 9.5 percent of all plastic packaging, including 26 percent of all plastic bottles.

Motor oil never wears out, it just gets dirty. Oil can be recycled, re-refined and used again, reducing our reliance on imported oil. (Motor oil is accepted at the Department of Public Works Garage, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.)

Five Important Reasons Why

Americans Should Recycle

• #1 - Saves Natural Resources - By making products from recycled materials instead of virgin materials, we conserve land and reduce the need to drill for oil and dig for minerals.
• #2 - Saves Energy - It usually takes less energy to make recycled products; recycled aluminum, for example, takes 95 percent less energy than new aluminum from bauxite ore.
• #3 - Saves Clean Air and Water - In most cases, making products from recycled materials creates less air pollution and water pollution than making products from virgin materials.
• #4 - Saves Landfill Space - When the materials that you recycle go into new products, they don't go into landfills or incinerators, so landfill space is conserved.
• #5 - Saves Money and Creates Jobs - The recycling process creates far more jobs than landfills or incinerators, and recycling can frequently be the least expensive waste management method for cities and towns.

More Good Reasons to Recycle

Economic Benefits of Recycling
Several studies have shown that recycling related businesses have substantial economic development benefits.
A study of 10 states in the Northeast region found that more than 100,000 people are employed in firms that process recyclables or use them in manufacturing. The study also estimates that more than $7.2 billion in value is added to recyclables in the Northeast through processing and manufacturing.

A similar study of 13 states and territories in the Southeast found that nearly 140,000 people are employed by firms that process recyclables or use them in manufacturing. The value added to recyclables for that region was estimated at $18.5 billion.

North Carolina found in a 1995 study that businesses which collect, process and manufacture recyclables have nearly $1 billion in total estimated sales and 9,000 employees - that's in North Carolina alone.

Environmental Benefits of Recycling
Recycling saves energy, natural resources, and landfill space. In most cases, making products from recycled materials also creates less air pollution and water pollution than making products from virgin materials.

"Buy Recycled" Myths
Here are four common myths and misconceptions about buying recycled:

Recycled products are hard to find.

This used to be true, but no longer. From the neighborhood grocery store to national retailers, stores sell thousands of products made from or packaged in recycled content material.

Recycled paper isn't as good as non recycled paper.

Recycled content papers now share the same printing and performance characteristics as their virgin equivalent. Recycled papers no longer look different. You can now find recycled content papers with the same whiteness and brightness as virgin papers. They also offer the same level of runnability and high quality imaging on copiers, and laser and ink jet printers.

Recycled products cost more.

This used to be the case for some materials, but things have changed. Many recycled products are priced competitively with their non recycled counterparts. In fact, some may be less expensive!
Recycled products are inferior in quality.

This is simply not true. Recycled products have the same quality, reliability, and dependability. A 1996 survey by the Buy Recycled Business Alliance asked hundreds of corporate purchasing agents about their satisfaction with recycled content products. The survey results showed that 97% of respondents were pleased with the performance of recycled content products.

Charlie says- "Textiles account for up to 4% of the waste stream. You can recycle unwanted clothing at the Keene Recycling Center ."

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