Why recycle?
Recycling delivers significant environmental benefits through avoided use of virgin materials and reduced energy use in production of the required materials.
Take paper for example;
• Every tonne of paper recycled saves;
- Around 13 trees
- 2.5 barrels of oil
- 4100 kWh of electricity (it takes 70% less energy to produce paper from recycled paper than from trees)
- 4 cubic metres of landfill
- 31,780 litres of water
• Every tonne of paper that goes to landfill produces leacheate which contaminates the groundwater and produces methane gas which has a greenhouse warming potential 21 times higher than carbon dioxide.
Also, look at Food and organic waste;
• Every tonne of food and organic waste recycled produces;
- 100kg of fertilizer
- Enough electricity to power 16 homes and reduce 1.3 tonnes of greenhouse emmissions