How Does Plastic Recycling Help the Environment?

Plastic is found in almost every aspect of contemporary life.

From pipes to clothing, plastic is found in so many different products that it is hard to think of some aspect of daily life where it is not found. One way to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment is through recycling.

Features

Plastic is a polymer made from petroleum. Shaped through a variety of processes including extrusion, blow molding, rotation molding and injection molding, these plastics fill many purposes in our daily lives.

Function

Plastic is a major component in our economy used to manufacture a variety of goods including containers, household items, furniture, toys and packing material. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2008 Americans threw out about 30 million tons of plastic, about 12 percent of the municipal solid waste generated that year.

Significance

According to Earth 911, about 80 percent of Americans now have access to plastic recycling. According to the EPA, about 2.1 million tons of plastic was recovered in 2008. When plastic is recycled it is converted into plastic beads which manufacturers can use to make new products. Recycling plastic has benefits for both the environment and the economy. Recycling reduces the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills, decreases the amount of natural resources used to make plastic and saves energy.

References

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Plastics
• Earth 911: Plastic 101