1% of the nation's waste stream can amount to approximately 2 million tons of trash each year!
According to the Container Recycling Institute around 636 thousand tons of PET plastic beverage bottles were recycled nationwide in 2006, but more than three times as much PET was wasted: 2 million tons.
Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum from raw material.
July 1, 2009
The Three R's
Stop garbage at the source, Before we are filled with remorse, It's our health we stand to lose, So reduce, recycle, and reuse.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...Respond
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces 4.6 pounds of garbage per day. With that much refuse entering the waste stream, the familiar phrase "reduce, reuse, recycle" has become more poignant than ever. The best way to combat or manage our growing trash problem is to not generate so much waste in the first place, a practice referred to as the "Three R's" or "source reduction."
1. REDUCE • Buy and use only what you need. • Purchase products that use the least amount of unnecessary packaging. • Adopt practices that reduce waste toxicity.
2. REUSE • Consider reusable products. • Maintain and repair durable products. • Reuse bags, containers, and other appropriate items. • Borrow, rent, or share items used infrequently. • Sell or donate goods using services such as Freecycle instead of simply throwing them out.
3. RECYCLE • Purchase recyclable products and containers and recycle them. • Select products made from recycled materials. • Practice composting in your household.
4. RESPOND • Educate others on the "Three R's." • Make your preferences known to merchants, manufacturers, and community leaders. • Create your own new ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
