Why Recycle?
When we recycle, used materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume raw, natural resources. If used materials are not recycled, new products are made by extracting fresh, new material from the Earth, through mining, forestry and drilling.
Recycling helps conserve important raw materials and protects natural habitats for the future. Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials – even when comparing all associated costs, like transport. Plus there are extra energy savings because more energy is required to extract, refine, transport and process raw materials ready for industry compared with providing industry-ready materials.
Recycling reduces the need for extracting, refining and processing raw materials all of which create substantial air and water pollution.