| Each and every year thousands of tons of trash | | | | should encourage those in your neighborhood to |
| is poured into landfills. Though we are in no | | | | take up, as recycling can really help with bringing a |
| immediate danger of running short on landfill | | | | community together. |
| space, this is expensive in terms of time, space, | | | | 5. Recycling is about more than just material |
| and energy invested, as well as the sheer waste | | | | savings, it is also about energy consciousness. |
| of materials that will not ever be used again. With | | | | Every aluminum can which is recycled saves |
| that in mind, consider these reasons to keep your | | | | enough energy to run a television for 3 hours; |
| aluminum and steel cans out of the landfill by | | | | one pound of cans recycled will save enough |
| recycling them. | | | | energy to run it for four days! |
| 1. Aluminum that has been recycled is used for | | | | 6. The United States currently uses steel which is |
| new projects within 2 months. In contrast, it | | | | more than 65% recycled. That is not too bad, but |
| would take 200-500 years for that same to | | | | there is definitely room for improvement. This |
| break down naturally if were just thrown away. | | | | proportion would go up significantly if more people |
| 2. Metal cans can be exchanged for cash at lots | | | | knew that they could recycle their steel cans. |
| of places. Various states offer five cents for each | | | | 7. There are can crushing machines on the |
| can given to them, and certain centers offer | | | | market that can be used to make the job easier, |
| between fifty cents and two dollars per pound of | | | | including some that can be made at home for |
| cans recycled. | | | | almost no cost. This removes the a commonly |
| 3. Recycled steel and aluminum are have exactly | | | | used excuse that recycling cans takes up too |
| the same composition as 'new' aluminum and steel. | | | | much space. |
| Recycled metals are just melted down and then | | | | 8. The 100,000,000 'new' steel cans made on a |
| forged into new products, which can then be | | | | daily basis consist of 25% recycled materials. That |
| recycled again when they are finished being used. | | | | is the equivalent of 25 million reclaimed cans |
| 4. On average, Americans recycle 105,784 cans | | | | versus 75 million completely new cans. If more |
| per minute. The majority of that number is a | | | | people recycled, that number could easily jump to |
| result of particular communities working hard on | | | | 50-50 and a huge amount of energy and |
| special projects, and that is something that you | | | | resources would be saved. |