Recycling Myths
Most Americans recycle all they can, right? Well, no. Many Americans do not fully recycle, and often only recycle from a few rooms and not the whole house. Recycling arrows mean it can be recycled, right? Unfortunately, many municipalities do not have the resources to recycle certain types of plastics. You should check with your local recycling requirements to determine what can and cannot be recycled. Items must be spotless before they can be recycled, right? Actually, containers should just be reasonably clean, but not spotless. This is mostly to prevent contamination of other materials before it reaches the recycling plant (i.e. while in your recycling bin).
Source: https://www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right/recycling-101
Item, percent recycled, and percent energy savings
- Steel(cans), 67%, 72%
- Aluminum, 43%, 94%
- Glass, 33%, 10-15%
- Plastic, 29%, 90%
- Paper, 69%, 60%
Sources: https://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues/faq/how-does-recycling-save-energy https://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/recycling-energy-savings.html