Recycling Facts

Recycling Facts - U.S. Economy

Slide 1

Overall, Americans recovered 34% of waste generated in 2011. In 2010, Americans generated about 250 million tons of trash and recycled and composted over 85 million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.1 percent recycling rate. On average, we recycled and composted 1.51 pounds out of our individual waste generation of 4.43 pounds per person per day.

Slide 1

In 2009, Americans recycled 82 million tons of materials. The resulting CO2 emission reduction is equivalent to taking 33 million passenger vehicles off the road. The recyclable materials in the U.S. waste stream would generate over $7 billion if they were recycled. That’s equivalent to Donald Trump’s net worth.

Slide 1

The amount of wood we throw away each year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 years. 1,121,84 employees in collections, processing, manufacturing and remanufacturing , generating an annual payroll of 37 billion dollars!

250 million metric tons of scrap materials recycled annually including:

Million Tons of Iron and Steel

Million Tons of Aluminum

Million Tons of Copper

Million Tons of Stainless Steel

Million Tons of Lead

420

Thousand Tons of Zinc

Million Pounds of Plastic Bottles

Million Tons of Electronics

285

Million Tires

Recycling Facts - Global Trade

Slide 1

Scrap has been an important export commodity from the US for more than a century.

In 2007 $21.7 billion worth of scrap commodities exported, helping U.S. trade balances. 38 million metric tons of scrap were exported including:

Million Tons of Paper

Million Tons of Iron & Steel

Million Tons of Aluminum

955

Thousand Tons of Nickel & Stainless

906

Thousand Tons of Copper

472

Thousand Pounds of Plastic Bottles

129

Thousand Tons of Lead

102

Thousand Tons of Zinc

Thousand Tons of Rubber

Recycling Facts - Our Environment

Slide 1

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by requiring significantly less energy to manufacture products from recyclables than virgin ore and by avoiding landfilling.

Slide 1

Conserves natural resources. Recycling one ton of:

Paper saves 17 trees, 79 gallons of oil, 7000 gallons of water, and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill.
Steel conserves 2500 lbs. of iron ore, 1400 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs. of limestone.

Slide 1

Cleaner air and water from safely removing potentially hazardous materials and keeping them out of landfills such as:

Mercury switches removed from older automobiles.

Lead recovered from computer monitors.

Various harmful chemicals safely recycled from electronics.

Recycling Facts - U.S. Economy

250 million metric tons of scrap materials recycled annually including:

Million Tons of Iron and Steel

Million Tons of Aluminum

Million Tons of Copper

Million Tons of Stainless Steel

Million Tons of Lead

Thousand Tons of Zinc

Million Pounds of Plastic Bottles

Million Tons of Electronics

Million Tires

Recycling Facts - Global Trade

In 2007 $21.7 billion worth of scrap commodities exported, helping U.S. trade balances. 38 million metric tons of scrap were exported including:

Million Tons of Paper

Million Tons of Iron & Steel

Million Tons of Aluminum

Thousand Tons of Nickel & Stainless

Thousand Tons of Copper

Thousand Pounds of Plastic Bottles

Thousand Tons of Lead

Thousand Tons of Zinc

Thousand Tons of Rubber

Recycling Facts - Our Environment

Energy saved using recycled materials vs. virgin ore:

% for Aluminum

% for Copper

% for Plastic

% for Iron & Steel

% for Paper

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