Environmental Facts About Recycling

Recycling is the act of taking used materials, like waste paper or glass, to make something new. Positive and negative environmental effects are associated with recycling.

Plastic

Plastic bags and other products can entangle birds, fish and other animals. Recycling plastic keeps the material out of landfills where animals can become trapped or injured by plastics.

Paper

Paper recycling reduces the demand for trees to be harvested as raw material. Trees are a major source of oxygen and help clean CO2 emissions from the air.

Glass

Glass is harder to recycle than other materials in bulk due to variations in melting temperature per type. Recycling glass helps remove shards that can cause injuries to people and animals from the environment.

Steel

Every steel item made in the U.S. holds recycled steel in its makeup. Steel recycling lowers demand for mining which strips the landscape of natural resources.

Fun Fact

Recycling can be done at home for an immediate effect on your home environment. Composting is recycling food scraps and makes a rich soil you can use on your garden.

References

• Sustainable steel

Resources

• Recycle steel
• Tree Hugging Family- Resources on recycling and going green