1. Good For Our Economy
American companies rely on recycling programs to provide the raw materials they need to make new products.

2. Creates Jobs
More than 56,000 recycling and reuse enterprises employ 1.1 million workers nationwide.

3. Reduces Waste
The average American discards 4.6 pounds of trash every day. Most of this goes into to landfills, where it’s compacted and buried.

4. Good For The Environment
Recycling requires far less energy, uses fewer natural resources, and keeps waste from piling up in landfills.

5. Saves Energy
Manufacturing with recycled materials offers a significant energy savings. For example, manufacturing with recycled aluminum cans uses 95% less energy than the production of entirely new cans.

6. Preserves Landfill Space
Recycling preserves existing landfill space and minimizes the need for new landfills.

7. Prevents Global Warming
Every year, recycling at current rates prevents the release of 180 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent into the air.

8. Reduces Water Pollution
Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.

9. Protects Wildlife
Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands and rivers — places essential to wildlife.

10. Creates New Demand
Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy.