Benefits of Recycling

"Why does recycling matter?"

Making new containers and other products from used materials saves energy and resources, creates jobs and provides valuable feed stocks to North Carolina manufacturers. Here are the details:

  • kid recyclingPeople know recycling is important. A vast majority of the public believes recycling is important and has a positive impact on communities. Associating yourself with a favorable practice is good public relations for your business.
  • recycling jobs flowchartRecycling is good for the economy. Recycling in North Carolina is a job creator and a growing part of our state's economy. Recycling employs more than 14,000 North Carolinians and recycling jobs have increased about 48 percent in the last 10 years.
  • bottling factoryManufacturers need your bottles and cans. Beverage container recycling has been declining in recent years despite increased public knowledge of the benefits of recycling. However, the amount of beverage containers that are being sold and consumed has increased over time, which means we're disposing of more material that is needed by manufacturers to meet single-serving beverage container demand.
  • landfill pictureWaste is growing. In 2004, NC Solid Waste Management Annual Report estimated the average lifespan of landfill cells will mean 18 years remain for our waste. Across North Carolina, efforts to divert valuable resources from the landfill are accelerating. This is one of them.
  • tree under glassRecycling conserves resources. There is only a finite amount of resources on this planet. Although some are renewable, our demand for resources is very high. By recycling, we reduce our demand for raw material to make the products we use. We return valuable materials back into the economic system, creating jobs, supporting businesses, and reducing our rate of resource consumption.
  • green ribbonRecycling is good for the environment. Recycling is a proven way to reduce air and water pollution, reduce energy consumption and decrease greenhouse gases emissions linked to global warming.

  • For more information on the benefits of recycling visit RE3

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