The United States produces the most waste of any country, with each person generating 1,609 pounds of waste annually. This means that only 5% of the world's population creates 40% of global waste. However, much of this waste can be reduced through recycling various materials like paper, plastic, glass, aluminum and cardboard. Recycling these materials has numerous environmental benefits such as saving trees, energy and reducing pollution from materials that end up in oceans and landfills. It is important that everyone does their part to recycle and be good stewards of the earth for future generations.
2. The U.S. is the #1 trash producing country in the
world
Each person contributes approximately 1,609
lbs. of waste each year
This means 5% of the word’s people generate
40% of the world’s waste
We can reduce this by being a recycler
GlassPlasticPaper
AluminumStyrofoamCardboard
3. Paper Recycling Facts:
If all newspaper was recycled we would save
250,000,000 trees
The amount of paper/wood we throw out each
year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes
Each American uses about 680 lbs. of paper a year
Each year approximately 1 billion trees worth of
paper are thrown away in the U.S.
4. 2,500,000 plastic
bottles are used every
hour, most are thrown
away
Plastic bags & other
plastic items thrown in
the ocean kill about
1,000,000 sea
inhabitants each year
Recycling plastic saves
twice as much energy
as incinerating it
5. Every month glass
bottle/jars are thrown
away, which can fill up a
skyscraper
It takes about 4,000 years
for glass to decompose
We can get energy from
recycled glass such as in a
light bulb
Raw material can be used
for making new glass
6. Aluminum Recycling Facts:
Recycling just 1 aluminum can provide energy to
run a TV for 3 hours
A used aluminum can gets recycled into a new one
for a grocery shelf in 60 days
Aluminum cans are the most recycled item in the
U.S.
People can also recycle aluminum siding, gutters, &
lawn furniture
7. Everyone of us should be a steward of this Earth. Recycle, reuse and reduce so this
wonderful planet will be here for your children, their children and generations to
come. Start today for a cleaner, greener tomorrow!
