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Recycling 101
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GreeniacsGuides
Recycling 101
| Recycling 101 |
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| Written by greeniac04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monday, 15 June 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Recycling 101Benefits A summary of benefits released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) include : Recycling protects and expands U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases U.S. competitiveness. Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration. Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials. Recycling saves energy. Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals. Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations. Cost: Variable The cost of recycling varies depending on your local recycling program. On average, though, it has been estimated that a well-run curbside recycling program can cost anywhere from $50 to more than $150 per ton while trash collection and disposal programs can cost anywhere from $70 to more than $200 per ton. Again, it depends on where you live, whether you have curbside programs or drop-off centers, etc. The environmental benefits, however, tend to out weigh the cost factors. Time and Effort: Moderate If you currently do not have a recycling system set-up for your household, the initial time and effort will be higher. Once you have a system in place, the time and effort is very minimal! You can see the Greeniacs Guide for setting up your home recycling station for more information: http://www.greeniacs.com/GreeniacsGuides/Set_Up_a_Home_Recycling_Station. Getting Started Because recycling programs vary greatly on where you live, you will first need to research your local recycling regulations. Below is a table including U.S. EPA resources, given by the, for identifying where and how to recycle in your area:
If you are still unable to find your local recycling programs, below are some resources for searching by state or zip code: Earth 911 allows you to enter exactly WHAT you want to recycle and WHERE to recycle it by zip code. http://earth911.org/recycling/ The National Recycling Coalition provides an interactive map allowing you to click directly on your state to find recycling resources. http://www.nrc-recycle.org/consumers.aspx After identifying your local recycling regulations, print them out and post them in a place for reference, your refrigerator is always a good bet! You are now ready to set-up an at-home recycling station! Check out our Greeniacs Guide Set Up a Home Recycling Station for all the necessary information to continue your journey! http://www.greeniacs.com/GreeniacsGuides/Set_Up_a_Home_Recycling_Station Ή http://www.nrc-recycle.org/fact-sheet.aspx. ² http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm. $mainframe->appendPathWay('My text'); $mainframe->setPageTitle('My page title'); |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 12 February 2010 ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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