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TRASH FACTS
About 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable, yet our recycling rate is just 33%. (Environmental Protection Agency)
More than ½ million trees are saved each year by recycling paper in Boulder County. (Eco-Cycle)
By recycling more than 57,000 tons of steel cans, we reduce greenhouse gasses equivalent to taking more than 21,000 cars off the road each year. (WM)
Recycling glass instead of making it from silica sand reduces mining waste by 70%, water use by 50%, and air pollution by 20%. (Environmental Defense Fund)
If we recycled all of the newspapers printed in the U.S. on a typical Sunday, we would save 550,000 trees—or about 26 million trees per year. (California Department of Conservation)
The energy saved each year by steel recycling is equal to the electrical power used by 18 million homes each year—or enough energy to last Los Angeles residents for eight years. (Steel Recycling Institute)
The total volume of solid waste produced in the U.S. each year is equal to the weight of more than 5,600 Nimitz Class air craft carriers, 247,000 space shuttles, or 2.3 million Boeing 747 jumbo jets. (Beck)
An average kitchen-size bag of trash contains enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 24 hours. (Covanta)
The solid waste industry currently produces more than half of America's renewable energy, more than combined energy outputs of the solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind power industries. (U.S. DOE, Energy Information Administration)
Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees, 2 barrels of oil (enough to run the average car for 1,260 miles), 4,100 kilowatts of energy (enough power for the average home for 6 months), 3.2 cubic yards of landfill space, and 60 pounds of air pollution. (Trash to Cash)
Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to operate a TV for 3 hours. (Eco-Cycle)
Glass can be recycled an indefinite number of times and never wears out. (National Recycling Coalition)
Making glass from recycled material cuts related water pollution by 50%. (National Recycling Coalition)
If we put all of the solid waste collected in the U.S. in a line of average garbage trucks, that line of trucks could cross the country, extending from New York City to Los Angeles, more than 100 times. (Beck)
Five PET bottles (plastic soda bottles) yield enough fiber for one extra large T-shirt, one square food of carpet or enough fiber fill to fill one ski jacket. (National Recycling Coalition)
The average person has the opportunity to recycle more than 25,000 cans in a lifetime. (National Recycling Coalition)
Americans throw away enough office paper each year to build a 12-foot-high wall of paper from New York to Seattle. (National Recycling Coalition)
The average American discards seven and a half pounds of garbage every day. (National Recycling Coalition)
Once an aluminum can is recycled, it's back on the grocery shelf as another aluminum can in 60 days. (www.aluminum.org)
Americans throw away enough aluminum every three months to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. (www.aluminum.org)
Tossing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as pouring out half of that can's volume of gasoline. (www.aluminum.org)
Enough aluminum cans were recycled last year to fill a hollow Empire State Building 24 times. (www.aluminum.org)
The 62.6 billion cans recycled last year alone would make 171 circles around the earth at its equator. (www.aluminum.org)
Some 119,482 cans are recycled every minute nationwide. (www.aluminum.org)
National Solid Wastes Management Association Illinois Chapter Launches Recycling Toolkit
New Resource Offers Innovative Recycling Tips for Commercial, Business & Multi-Family Households
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2012
Contact: Cally Eckles, 312-588-4102 or cally@macstrategiesgroup.com
CHICAGO – As a leader in the recycling industry, the National Solid Wastes Management Association Illinois Chapter (NSWMA-IL) has launched an innovative recycling toolkit to provide communities with the latest information, tools and tips to help meet their recycling needs. The Association's recycling toolkit has been shared with municipalities across the Chicago-land area and includes the latest information on state laws related to recycling "dos and don'ts," including the new eWaste law, tips for saving money through implementing simple recycling practices, case studies for businesses to implement successful green programs and information on how to cut down on paper usage at home and in the workplace. NSWMA-IL has been a continued advocate for recycling efforts and the launch of their comprehensive toolkit reinforces the commitment of its members to be good stewards of the environment.
Highlights of the NSWMA-IL recycling toolkit:
- Updated Illinois laws related to disposal, recycling rules and overall waste regulations;
- Information on how and where to recycle TVs, computers, monitors and other electrical items;
- Case studies on how some of the nation's largest companies have implemented successful green initiatives
and recycling programs; - How to downsize your office/household paper use and ways to correctly recycle catalogs, magazines,
newspapers and more; - How recycling habits can help cut costs;
- Requirements for setting up and paying for the collection, transport and recycling of products companies
manufacture and sell in Illinois; - Common items we use and consume from containers everyday that can be recycled;
- Ways to make major construction projects more environmentally sound.
"Recycling is a top priority for NSWMA-IL and the toolkit allows us to provide our customers with important information about how to increase their recycling practices while becoming better stewards of the environment," said Robert Pfister Chairman of NSWMA-IL. "People often think of us as managers of trash or garbage, but we take great pride in being leaders in recycling efforts as well."
NWSMA-IL believes proper education is the center piece for creating a better environment. Myriad products including food, plastic, glass and even some hazardous materials — all can be properly recycled through using the tips and procedures outlined in the new toolkit. The creation of the toolkit is one of many proactive efforts NSWMA-IL has taken to help customers join their recycling effort to ultimately lead to a cleaner and safer environment. To access the NSWMA-IL Residential and Commercial Recycling Toolkit and other important wastes management and recycling tips, go here.
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About NSWMA: The Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) is the trade association that represents the private sector solid waste and recycling services industry through its two sub-associations, the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC). NSWMA and WASTEC members conduct business in all 50 states and include garbage collectors, processors, recyclers, equipment manufacturers and other service providers.
NSWMA's Illinois Chapter (NSWMA-IL) represents member companies conducting business in Illinois, particularly in the Chicagoland area. Our mission is to promote the management of waste in a manner that is environmentally responsible, efficient, profitable and ethical – while benefiting the public and protecting employees. For more information, visit: www.Illinoisgarbagefacts.com.
EIA is the trade association that represents the private sector solid waste and recycling industry through its two sub-associations, the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC).
© 2012, Environmental Industry Associations: NSWMA & WASTEC
