Recycling is the process of collecting and processing waste materials to make them useful again. This includes reusing glass, paper, plastic, metal and other material in the manufacture of new products. The reuse of raw materials conserves natural resources, saves energy, reduces air and water pollution, creates jobs, stimulates the development of greener technologies, reduces litter and landfill waste, and helps to mitigate global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The simplest way to recycle is by placing your recycling bin next to the trash can at home and work. Download and use the Recycling and Trash labels found in the Recycling Resources section to help ensure you are placing clean bottles, cans, jars and other containers into the correct bins.
After collection, recyclables are sent to a Materials Recovery Facility where they are sorted, cleaned, and prepared for manufacturing into new products. Increasingly, everyday items are being manufactured with total or partial recycled content. Some of these products include newspaper and paper towels, glass and metal containers, aluminum and steel cans, plastic bags, and even park benches and carpeting.
The primary reason for current recycling is that it saves energy compared to producing goods from raw materials. It also reduces the emission of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, supplies valuable raw materials to industry, creates jobs, and conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals. In addition, recycling reduces the need for landfills or incinerators and provides a more environmentally sound alternative to open-pit mining, sand quarrying, and oil drilling.