Recycle Benefits

There are many benefits to recycling and the good thing is there really aren't any cons that accompany the pros!

The most important advantage is it will save the planet for future generations to come!

We list only the main reasons or benefits to recycling, but feel free to look up more if you wish! Below you will find a list of benefits and the broader category in which they fall under.

Let's start with the leading factor that gets many people to recycle..

Money saved, even earned by recycling:

I am not judging, it is a good motivator. This seems to be one of biggest reasons that make many people really commit to the cause. After all, we could all use some extra cash in our pockets! Don't get us wrong, there are also many people who recycle out of the goodness of their hearts and are all about being charitable and helping the environment. However, their are many others who need to see a personal gain out of doing something extra. For those, this is a great way to show them that recycling can benefit them too!

So how do you save or even earn money through recycling? Simple..

1. There are government policies (in some, but not all countries) that give financial benefits to those who recycle.
2. Some recycling facilities give cash for recycled items you turn into them.

3. Old newspapers, appliances, copper, plastic, steel, rubber, and even beer cans can be sold for money.

4. Reusing items will save you money from buying new products to replace them.

5. Buying products made from recycled materials are also cheaper than their alternatives.

6. When we use less resources, the prices for these things go down.

7. This in turn saves us money that would have otherwise been spent on planting more forests, mining iron ore, or purchasing fossil fuels from other countries. (Maybe this is where part of our taxes go? If so we can mention that it would saves us in taxes)

8. The more we recycle, the more jobs are created by this industry. This stabilizes the community and the entire process!

9. Recycling is estimated by the National Recycling Coalition to create 1.1 million jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales, and $37 billion in annual payrolls.

10. According to Wrap, for every 1 job at a landfill there are 10 jobs in recycling processing and 25 jobs in recycling based producers. Therefore, recycling creates more jobs than incinerators and recycling can typically be the least costly waste management technique for cities and towns!

11. A well-run recycling program costs less to operate than waste collection, land-filling, and incineration! Additionally, the more people that recycle, the cheaper this process becomes!

12. This also boosts our economy, in more ways than one. For example, all of the money saved from the current waste disposal system could be diverted to where it is needed most.

13. Thousands of companies in the United States have saved millions of dollars through their voluntary recycling programs. They wouldn't recycle if it didn't make economic sense!

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions:

1. Since you save energy by recycling products, less greenhouse gas is produced.
2. This means we could worry less about global warming, as greenhouse gas is the main factor causing it.
3. By decreasing the amount of pollutants released into the world, we would also reduce land, water, and air pollution.

Conserves natural resources and biodiversity:

1. Used rubber tires, old bottles, junk mail, and scrap cars that make up a large percentage of landfills, all require natural resources such as oil, timber, water, gas, minerals, and coal to make.
2. These natural resources are not endless and therefore are being used up faster than they can replenish themselves.
3. By recycling, these resources do not have to be exploited since new products would be made from the old ones, preserving these resources for the future.
4. This in turn would decrease the need to harvest trees, drill for oil, conserve land, and dig for minerals. Mining in itself is dangerous work, (on average, 40 mine workers are killed on the job each day and many more are injured!) so decreasing this need would save people from having to perform under life threatening conditions.
5. Another one of the benefits of recycling is that it allows more emphasis to be put on creating technology to utilize what already exists.
6. This is why a number of industries support programs where they can receive large quantities of recyclable materials to convert into new items. 
7. When less natural resources are being used, it prevents the loss of our biodiversity, ecosystems, and rainforests.
8. It would also reduce soil erosion and water pollution which will protect plants and help animals survive in their habitat.

Unifies individuals:

1. Recycling programs bring people and communities together by providing a common cause they can relate to.
2. Participating in activities together to work towards something positive can be fun and generate a sense of pride within the team of people helping out.
3. Many people form friendships with others in programs such as these.
4. Not to mention, it is a great way for children to get involved, make friends, and learn some responsibility and how to take initiative.
5. Most importantly, the decrease in our need of natural resources (like oil, timber, & minerals) would reduce the brutal wars waged over them and save even more lifes in the process.