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.