Composting is a method of recycling organic materials, such as certain food waste and yard clippings, directly into the soil.
Batteries contain many toxic ingredients, such as lead and cadmium, which can cause serious environmental damage if they are buried in landfills. Many recycling centers direct customers to special dealers who accept used batteries.
Steel cans can be recycled many times. Recycled steel is used for many products, such as tin cans.
Not all forms of aluminum are recycled. For example, aluminum foil can be recycled, but not all recycling centers are set up to process it.
In 1999, roughly two-thirds of all aluminum cans produced in the United States were recycled.
Aluminum cans are the most widely recycled metal.
Recycling reduces the improper disposal of trash, such as littering.
When landfills leak, hazardous solvents can contaminate groundwater that may be used for agriculture or as drinking water. Landfills and incinerators also emit pollution into the air.
Recycling reduces the need for new landfills and incinerators. Landfills and incinerators can emit hazards to the environment.
In general, recycling of materials also produces less pollution than processing raw materials.
Recycling saves energy and reduces emissions. In most cases, it takes less energy to make new products from recycled materials than from raw materials.
Recycling saves habitats, such as rain forests. By reducing the demand for new materials (such as metals that must be mined and refined) from the environment, more land and habitats can be preserved and/or conserved.
Recycling saves natural resources. Recycling reduces the demand for new materials from the environment. For example, by recycling paper, fewer trees are needed to produce new paper.
Recycling can be as simple as reusing something, such as a coat or computer by passing it on for someone else to use. Or, it can be as involved as reprocessing materials in metals, plastics, paper, or glass to make new products.
Recycling is any process that involves the recovery and reuse of materials that were once considered trash.
