• By epa.gov, admin
• Posted On 2016/08/16

Recycling 101

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit your community and the environment.

Benefits of Recycling
    Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators
    Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals
    Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials
    Saves energy
    Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change
    Helps sustain the environment for future generations
    Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries.

Steps to Recycling Materials

Recycling includes the three steps below, which create a continuous loop, represented by the familiar recycling symbol.

    Step 1: Collection and Processing
    There are several methods for collecting recyclables, including curbside collection, drop-off centers, and deposit or refund programs. Visit How do I recycle... Common Recyclables
    After collection, recyclables are sent to a recovery facility to be sorted, cleaned and processed into materials that can be used in manufacturing. Recyclables are bought and sold just like raw materials would be, and prices go up and down depending on supply and demand in the world.

Step 2: Manufacturing
More and more of today's products are being manufactured with recycled content. Common household items that contain recycled materials include the following:
    Newspapers and paper towels
    Aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers
    Steel cans
    Plastic laundry detergent bottles

Recycled materials are also used in new ways such as recovered glass in asphalt to pave roads or recovered plastic in carpeting and park benches.

Step 3: Purchasing New Products Made from Recycled Materials
You help close the recycling loop by buying new products made from recycled materials. There are thousands of products that contain recycled content. When you go shopping, look for the following:
    Products that can be easily recycled
    Products that contain recycled content

Below are some of the terms used:
    Recycled-content product - The product was manufactured with recycled materials either collected from a recycling program or from waste recovered during the normal manufacturing process. The label will sometimes include how much of the content was from recycled materials.
    Post-consumer content - Very similar to recycled content, but the material comes only from recyclables collected from consumers or businesses through a recycling program.
    Recyclable product - Products that can be collected, processed and manufactured into new products after they have been used. These products do not necessarily contain recycled materials. Remember not all kinds of recyclables may be collected in your community so be sure to check with your local recycling program before you buy.

Some of the common products you can find that can be made with recycled content include the following:

    Aluminum cans
    Car bumpers
    Carpeting
    Cereal boxes
    Comic books
    Egg cartons
    Glass containers
    Laundry detergent bottles
    Motor oil
    Nails
    Newspapers
    Paper towels
    Steel products
    Trash bags

"More and more of today's products are being manufactured with recycled content. "

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