Recycling Facts

• Recycling conserves scarce natural resources such as oil, water, minerals and trees.
• Recycling helps reduce water and air pollution.
• Recycling conserves energy as it takes less energy to make new products from recycled materials versus natural resources taken out of the earth.
• Recycling reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the amount of trash dumped in landfills and the amount of methane emitted to the atmosphere.
• Recycling is an easy and efficient way to participate in the University's "sustainability" initiatives.

Aluminum

Recycling an aluminum can saves 95% of the energy required to make the same amount of aluminum from its virgin source. One ton of recycled aluminum saves 14,000 kwh of energy, 40 barrels of oil, 238 million Btu's of energy, and 10 cubic yards of landfill space.

Newsprint

One ton of recycled newsprint saves 601 Kwh of energy, 1.7 barrels of oil (71 gallons), 10.2 million Btu's of energy, 60 pounds of air pollutants from being released, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4.6 cubic yards of landfill space.

Office Paper

One ton of recycled office paper saves 4,100 Kwh of energy, 9 barrels of oil, 54 million Btu's of energy, 60 pounds of air pollutants from being released, 7,000 gallons of water, and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.

Plastic

One ton of recycled plastic saves 5,774 Kwh of energy, 16.3 barrels of oil, 98 million Btu's of energy, and 30 cubic yards of landfill space.

Steel

One ton of recycled steel saves 642 Kwh of energy, 1.8 barrels of oil, 10.9 million Btu's of energy, and 4 cubic yards of landfill space.

Glass    

One ton of recycled glass saves 42 Kwh of energy, 0.12 barrels of oil  (5 gallons), 714,000 Btu's of energy, 7.5 pounds of air pollutants from being released, and 2 cubic yards of landfill space. Over 30% of the raw material used in glass production now comes from recycled glass.

Last modified December 13 2010 03:43 PM