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Why is recycling the best thing to do? 

Recycling has numerous environmental 

benefits. Recycling saves energy, conserves 

natural resources, limits pollution, and 

supports several sectors of the economy. Here 

are some important statistics from the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency and other 

resource industry groups that will explain 

each of these benefits of recycling in greater 

detail. As you're reading, think how this could 

positively affect where you live and our 

environment. 

•In 2003, the energy savings from recycling 

54 billion aluminum cans exceeded the energy 

equivalent of 15 million barrels of crude oil – 

or the amount of gas the U.S. uses in one 

day. 

•Another way to look at it: recycling 1 can = 3 

hours of TV, so in 2003 the U.S. saved 

enough energy by recycling cans to run 162 

billion hours of TV, or about 25 hours of TV for 

every man, woman and child on Earth. 

•The Center for Ecological Technology found 

that the glass industry uses 50% less energy 

to create glass from recycled glass than from 

raw materials.

•Americans recycled about 40 million tons of 

paper products in 2003, creating an energy 

savings of 163 trillion (yes, with a “T”!) 

kilowatt hours of electricity. 

•Americans disposed of 83 million tons of 

paper products in 2003. According to the EPA, 

by recycling nearly half of that, we saved 705 

million trees and 290 billion gallons of fresh 

water. 

•4% of U.S. annual oil consumption, or 

roughly 219 million barrels of oil, goes into the 

manufacture of plastic. Thus increasing the 

amount of plastic we recycle can make a 

significant impact on oil use. 

•In 1997, the U.S. recycled 13 million cars, 

which conserved 32.5 billion pounds of iron 

ore, 18.2 billion pounds of coal and 1.5 billion 

pounds of limestone. 

•Recycling just half of your annual recyclable 

household waste saves 2400 pounds of CO2 

being released into the atmosphere. Many 

scientists contend that human-released CO2 is 

a leading cause of global warming. 

•Recycling household and car batteries keeps 

heavy metals such as mercury, lithium and 

cadmium from being released into our air and 

water. Heavy metals, when consumed by 

people and other animals, cause numerous 

health problems and diseases. 

•The EPA estimates that 200 million gallons of 

used motor oil are improperly disposed of each 

year. Recycling used motor oil keeps it from 

polluting your ground and fresh water. 

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