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The Importance of Recycling
Compiled by the S.A.V.E. Foundation
Overview
Where waste goes
Landfills and litter
The recycling process
Why recycling is important
Where Does Garbage Go?
Garbage is collected and is normally sent to a landfill
Unfortunately, a percentage of garbage never makes it to a landfill and instead becomes litter
A large portion of garbage can be recycled, composted, or donated for reuse
Landfills
Landfills take up valuable space
Many landfills are reaching capacity
Building new landfills is difficult since communities do not want them located near them
Older landfills may create water pollution from liquids leaching from the landfill into the water table
Due to the compact nature of landfills, oxygen cannot reach much of the garbage making it difficult for garbage to decompose
Litter
Litter is both a local and global issue On average, 6,729 pieces of litter found per mile of road
38% made up solely by cigarettes
Large patch of garbage located in Pacific ocean twice the size of Texas
Can be harmful to wildlife that mistakes litter for food items
How Recycling Works
Initial collection
Transfer from collection point to baling location
Transferred from baling location to factory and transformed from old product to new product
Transferred to businesses for consumer purchase
Initial Collection
Recycling is collected at central location
Currently paper, cardboard, and aluminum is collected here at the school
Some members of community collect plastic and bring it to S.A.V.E.’s plastic collection drives
Collection Point to Baling Facility
Transportation of products depends on specific location
In Townsend recycling is transported by community members
In Helena this can be done by the S.A.V.E. Foundation, Helena Recycling, or the City of Helena depending on commodity
Bales made up of only one type of item will be sold for the highest amount and will be the most useful for factories to use
Baling is done to compact items and prepare them for easy shipment to factories
Baling Facility to Factory
Items are transported to factory
Baled items are melted down and used as base materials in new items rather than using raw materials Raw materials deplete natural
resources and are normally more energy intensive to use
Examples: Aluminum cans make new
aluminum cans Milk jugs make artificial lumber #1 plastic bottles make fleece
Factory to Business
Once the factory has made the new product, it is sent to a business and made available to consumers
Many items contain recycled content without consumers being aware of it Most aluminum cans are made of at least 50% recycled content
Many paper towels are made with recycled paper products
Why Recycling is Important
Decreases amount of waste being sent to landfills
Decreases amount of raw materials being used to make products
Creates job opportunities where recycling centers are located
Teaches people to become more aware of their impact on the Earth
