Why Is Recycling Important?

Why is recycling important? If you're going to the trouble of sorting your trash and separating it for recycling, it seems you should know why you're doing it beyond the fact that's mandatory almost everywhere. By understanding why recycling is important, you may feel pretty noble next time you take out the trash to be recycled.

Keeps Prices Down Recycling reduces manufacturing costs. Recycling old materials is cheaper than buying and making brand new materials in the manufacture of goods. This helps hold down the cost of buying products in our stores.

Uses Less Energy It takes less energy to recycle old materials than to manufacture them from scratch. Our nation needs to become more energy independent, and conserving energy through recycling is a good, easy way to help. Energy is very expensive too, so recycling saves a lot of energy dollars.

Saves the Rainforest By recycling, there is less demand for cutting down trees. This helps save rainforest land, which is disappearing rapidly. By recycling to help save the rainforest, you help species dependent on that ecosystem to survive. Also, the more trees standing, the less the negative effects of greenhouse gasses and global warming.

Less Stuff in the Landfills Fewer landfills and less landfill space is needed when materials are recycled. Recycling glass, aluminum, paper, and plastics cuts way down on the volume of trash. This trash would otherwise be sent to landfills.

Less Litter and Air Pollution Litter is unsightly on our landscape. When litter is gathered and recycled instead of carelessly thrown about, it can be used to make helpful items. Many trash items slowly release harmful gasses and pollutants as they ever so slowly break down. These harmful substances can pollute the air and leach into the soil. Recycling prevents these chemicals from polluting in this wasteful manner.