JANUARY TIP: RECYCLE YOUR TRASH

An obtainable New Year’s Resolution for 2008 is to begin recycling. This suggestion may seem “old school” or like a song you’ve already heard, but the fact is that many folks are still not recycling their daily garbage and many cities, counties and states haven’t created a recycling infrastructure for their citizens. This makes it difficult to figure out how and where to take your recyclable goods. But with just a little practical initiative, you can get started.

Get three boxes, containers, or whatever you have handy and use them to separate your paper, plastic, and glass. If you have the room, place them close to your regular trash can. If not, put them in your garage. You can set up a stand-by trash can in the kitchen to toss all your recyclable goods in this container and then when it fills up, carry the container down and simply separate them while on your way out. Then, once a month make a simple trip to your local recycling center and drop off all your recyclables. Just once a month folks, while you’re out running your errands (and shopping with your reusable bags of course, wink, wink), and you can make a big impact.

If you live in an area that provides recycling pick-up, then you have it easy. Simply buy another trash can (or whatever container you have on hand), and while throwing things away put the paper, plastic, glass into this trash can. When your recycle trash can fills up, simply empty it into your large trash can provided by the city or county and put it out on the curb.

If you need some inspiration to begin the recycling habit, consider these benefits:

· Recycling in the U.S. is a $236 billion a year industry. More than 56,000 recycling and reuse enterprises employ 1.1 million workers nationwide.

· Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees.

· The energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a light bulb for four hours.

· Recycling benefits the air and water by creating a net reduction in ten major categories of air pollutants and eight major categories of water pollutants.

· It takes 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to make it from raw materials. Making recycled steel saves 60%, recycled newspaper 40%, recycled plastics 70%, and recycled glass 40%. These savings far outweigh the energy created as by-products of incineration and landfilling.

· A national recycling rate of 30% reduces greenhouse gas emissions as much as removing nearly 25 million cars from the road.

· When one ton of steel is recycled, 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved.

This may sound like a more complex tip then past ones. However, recycling is our number one tip and priority. So, let this be your New Years resolution and make this simple and practical tip part of your daily routine. Happy New Year and Happy Recycling!

Some links to help you find out more:

- National Reycling Coalition

- Earth 911 (provides a recycling center locator that’s based on the type of material you’re recycling)

Source:
National Recycling Coalition
http://www.recycling-revolution.com