• Recycling creates jobs
• Recycling reduces the need for landfills and incineration of
solid waste
• Recycling reduces the pollution caused by making products
from virgin materials
• Recycling saves energy
• Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that
contribute to climate change
• Recycling conserves the natural resources such as timber,
water and minerals
• By conserving resources today, recycling ensures there will
be plenty left for future generations.
Recycling feels good. It’s the right thing to do.
Saving Natural Resources And Natural Areas
Making products with recycled material slows the depletion on non-renewable resources such as metal, oil, and natural gas, and reduces the encroachment of new mining and drilling operations. Conserving renewable resources through recycling also helps preserve undisturbed land and natural diversity by reducing the amount of land needed for timber production.
Saving Energy
It generally takes less energy to make products with recycled materials than virgin materials. It takes 20 times more energy to make aluminum from bauxite ore than using recycled aluminum. Benefits of reduced energy consumption include reduced costs and reduced dependence on foreign suppliers.
Reducing Pollution
Using less energy also means generating less air and water pollution and recycling reduced other forms of pollution as well. Runoff from mining operations, soil erosion and toxic chemicals released when raw materials are processed.
Conserving Landfill Space
Ohio will not run out of landfill space any time soon, as was feared when state government began encouraging recycling in the 1980s, but conserving landfill space now will help put off the need to build new or expanded landfills.
Creating Industry and Jobs
Recycling isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for business. Ohio firms are among industry leaders in research and development of recycled-content products and mechanical and chemical systems for recycling material into new products. As of 2000, almost 100,000 jobs in Ohio were directly dependent on recycling; Ohio recycling resulted in $22.5 billion in sales and an annual payroll of $3.6 billion.
Lawrence-Scioto County Recycling and Litter Prevention
101 North 3rd Street Ironton, Ohio 45638
Phone: 740-532-1231/740-532-1243