by Summer Crosby

We are surrounded by toxic water, air, and soil pollution that are dangerous chemical byproducts of production. These byproducts leak into every part of our lives…from the eggs we eat at breakfast to the air we breathe on our way to work. However, every year the use of recycled materials reduces carbon emissions equal to that of removing 36 million cars from the road! Wait, did you read that? It said 36 MILLION CARS! You can make a difference and yes, it is as simple as “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”

5 Easy Steps You Can Do To Make a Difference

1. Recycle Aluminum and Steel: Aluminum cans are the best place to start recycling. Recycling one aluminum can generates enough energy savings to run your computer for three hours. Not only that, it saves 95% of the energy required to make the same can from a virgin ore. Steel takes 100 years to breakdown naturally. However, recycling steel makes it possible to produce new batches at only a fraction of the energy costs, not to mention the reduced impact of mining operations and landfill waste on our air, water, and solid waste pollution.


2. Recycle Glass and Plastic: Glass is an easy and extremely worthwhile item to recycle. It takes more than one million years for glass to decompose in our landfills. But recycling glass reduces related water pollution by 50%. Manufacturing plastic is a highly toxic and straining process on us and our environment. Recycling plastic is so important because it has a net energy saving of almost 90% over manufacturing it from virgin oil. Also, the manner in which it is recycled uses shredding and heating and very few chemicals, none of which are hazardous. However not all plastics are easily recycled. Avoid buying plastic products that have a 3 or a 7 inside the recycle triangle. These are virtually impossible to reuse.


3. Recycle Paper and Organic Waste: Recycling paper goods is so easy and the results are astounding. If only 10% of the copier paper bought in America switched to a 30% recycled-content paper, it would save 2.5 million trees from being cut down and the 80,000 tons of carbon they absorb. If everyone in America recycled just their Sunday paper, it would save half a million trees a week. Also, don’t forget about organic waste when thinking of recycling (like lawn and yard wastes, paper, and food). Organic waste makes up about 20% of our landfills, which are a leading source of greenhouse gases, second only to fossil-fuels. Simply leaving grass clippings on your lawn, composting, and recycling your paper can significantly lower the effect on greenhouse gases.


4. Recycle Specialty Items: There are items we all have that perhaps we just don’t know what to do with. Here are some alternatives to just throwing them away. Americans purchase 3 billion batteries a year which contain high concentrations of metals that seep into the ground when not disposed of correctly. Go to www.batteryrecycling.com to find out where to send your used batteries. Sunglasses, prescription glasses, hearing aids, all forms of jewelry, and silverware can all be given to www.neweyesfortheneedy.org who recycle your donations and send them to those in need. Instead of throwing out your non-stick cookware, have it affordably refinished by www.frypanman.com. When disposing of large appliances, car batteries or tires, or anything you’re just not sure about, go to www.earth911.org to find out more information about those items and where you can take them locally.


5. Donate, Freecycle, Use Less: Let’s not forget recycling to those in our community. Donate clothing, printers and computers, appliances, books, and all household or office items to local charities, schools, or shelters. Donate your old cell phones to people in need. Go to www.wirelessrecycling.com for more details. Freecycle is a fantastic grassroots mission that is spreading through communities throughout the world. It offers people the opportunity to partake in a free exchange of goods. Go to www.freecycle.org to learn more about how you can get involved. Most importantly, we all need to learn to consume less and reuse what we have. Reuse jars, envelopes, wrapping paper, and grocery bags. Use mugs at work and for to-go beverages. Avoid purchases with excess packaging and harmful plastics. Use rechargeable batteries. Junk mail is responsible for the cutting down of 100 million trees a year in America. Receive less junk mail by calling 1-888-OPT OUT and by visiting www.dmaconsumers.org to get your name removed from lists. Last but not least, buy recycled goods. Educate yourself, spread the word, and keep the circle going.