Disposable items such as packaging are taken for granted, and the energy used in their production is rarely considered. Even where local governments are promoting waste reduction, the reason is most often a lack of landfill space, not a desire to save energy. Purchasing only those items that are truly necessary, as well as reusing and recycling products wherever possible, can reduce energy use in the manufacturing sector. Lower emissions of energy-related pollutants go hand in hand with decreased energy use.
All sources of energy have negative impacts on the environment.
These impacts include global warming and acid rain caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, radiation risks from nuclear power plants , and the flooding of vast areas of land by hydro-electric dams . Recycling items such as paper, glass, plastics and metals, therefore, has multiple benefits. Saving Energy by Recycling Although recycling may seem like a new concept to many people, the benefits of recycling have been known for years. Scrap metal dealers have been around for decades, making money from the fact that it is cheaper to make metals from scrap than from ore. During the two world wars, metal, rubber, and aluminum were in such large demand that children would collect these items in order to earn spending money.