Recycling is the process of converting used materials into new products. It involves three phases: collection, processing and manufacturing. Materials recycled include paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, plastic containers, metal scrap (iron and steel), tin cans, and electronics. Recycling is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global climate change. It also saves energy, supplies valuable raw materials to industry, creates jobs, reduces air and water pollution, and conserves natural resources.
To produce new paper, for example, it takes 80% less water and energy than to make it from raw materials. Likewise, it requires 95% less energy to make aluminum from recycled material than from raw materials. The reuse of raw materials reduces the need to harvest and mine ever-dwindling natural resources, such as oil, coal, and mineral ores.
Almost all municipalities and many private companies collect recyclables. They are sorted and processed into marketable commodities, such as paper, aluminum, plastics, and glass. These are then used to manufacture a wide range of products. Increasingly, consumers are purchasing products that contain a significant amount of recycled content.
While recycling is an essential step toward a sustainable future, there are still challenges. One is the need for better education about what can and cannot be recycled. Another is the need for more consistent measurement methodologies to improve recycling system performance and develop innovative markets for recovered materials. Another challenge is the need to increase the percentage of collected material that is recycled domestically rather than exported abroad.
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