WHY RECYCLE

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Throwing out your garbage, putting it by the curb or taking it to the Landfill doesn't just make our trash magically disappear. When we throw our garbage away, it just goes somewhere else. We bury most of our garbage in landfills where it may stay forever. Some people burn their trash but in the process they are polluting the air and it still leaves ash to bury. Of all the environmental problems we are facing, garbage is one thing we can really do something about. Choices we make each and every day affect the amount and type of garbage we throw away. When we are conscious of the items we purchase, reuse things rather than buy new ones, and recycle, we not only make less garbage, but we save natural resources and energy and release less pollution into the air. Pre cycling is the step before recycling. This is the process in which you make that conscious decision to begin doing your part to help save our environment. We must work together to have a positive impact on the world in which we live.

Recycling conserves both raw materials and energy and reduces the amount of waste we produce. That’s why shopping for products made from recycled materials makes such good sense. Recycling all of your paper, cardboard, glass, tin, aluminum and metal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 850 pounds a year. Every year, Americans throw away enough office and writing paper to build a wall 12 feet high from New York to Los Angeles. If we would recycle just one-tenth of the newspaper that we throw away, we would save 25 million trees a year.

Did you know that for every glass bottle recycled, we save enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for 4 hours? If we would all work together to do our part to recycle, can you image the positive impact it would have on our Environment? Thinking globally, acting locally is something I like to think about. When recycling we are helping Mother Earth but we are acting locally within our community. Will you do your part?

If you have any questions please contact Tish or Kelli at the Preble County Solid Waste District at 937-456-6880.