Recycling Makes Sense

Why Recycle?

There are many reasons that it is a good idea to recycle. Perhaps the better question is why don't you recycle?

Landfilling

Recycling helps reduce the amount of trash being sent to the landfill, a temporary storage facility for our waste. Materials in a landfill do not biodegrade, making landfilling a temporary solution to a problem that must be eventually solved. While there is enough room in the United States, that we do not have to be concerned about running out of landfill space, please keep in mind that this land is more suitable for other purposes. Additionally, landfills must be closely monitored to ensure that they do not cause groundwater or air pollution. For example, Tompkins County is home to two closed landfills. While both landfills are closely monitored, inspected, and maintained, these processes still cost money.

Resources and Energy

By recycling what we can, we also save valuable resources and energy. Once a certain resource has been completely used, we will need to find another material or product that will execute the same purpose. Recycling helps reduce this need by making a new, usable good, from an old, used material.  Also, through the process of recycling, energy is not needed to mine, log, or otherwise acquire the raw materials. 

Jobs and Money

Recycling also creates jobs and can help save money. According to the National Recycling Coalition's (NRC) Recycling Economic Information Study, recycling creates four jobs for every one job created by the waste management and disposal industry. In fact, the study reports that recycling creates 1.1 million U.S. jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales and $37 billion in annual payrolls. In addition to job generation, revenue is generated through the sale of recyclables. This revenue is used to help subsidize the cost of the recycling programs, and in 2005, the sale of recyclables generated approximately $900,000.

Environment

As a result of the previously mentioned benefits, recycling helps reduce our environmental impact. It saves landfill space, reuses precious resources, and reduces energy use. This also means that recycling helps reduce air, land, and water pollution. Recycling is so easy and has numerous benefits. Why not recycle?

Mandatory

If the aforementioned reasons do not convince you that it is a good idea to recycle, here is one more. In Tompkins County, recycling is the law.