Water, oxygen, minerals, and plants are examples of natural resources. An enormous quantity of natural resources are used to produce goods we consume, and the use of these resources produce a lot of waste. Many natural resources are nonrenewable, which means that they are irreplaceable. Nonrenewable resources, such as oil and minerals, are especially precious because the Earth cannot make more of these materials. The extraction of natural resources, by mining and logging, has an environmental impact on habitats from which the resources were taken.
Recycling helps conserve our limited natural resources utilized in manufacturing products.
Recycling one ton of newspaper, for example, saves 17 trees. Recycling also reduces our dependency on foreign oil and mineral imports. Manufacturing with recycled materials requires less energy than manufacturing using raw materials. This means landfill life is extended and costs associated with waste collection and landfill operations are avoided. Recycling can be highly cost-effective compared to traditional refuse collection and disposal.