Recycling saves energy, thus reducing acid rain, global warming and air pollution. Recycling aluminum uses 95 percent less energy than producing aluminum products from raw materials. Recycling paper uses 60 percent less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin fiber. Recycling a glass jar saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.
Recycling conserves valuable natural resources.
75,000 trees are used for the Sunday edition of the New York Times each week, yet only 30 percent of the newspaper is recycled in the United States. Recycling metals minimizes the need for mining new minerals and decreases damage to wilderness. Recycling cuts down on landfill. The average American throws away four pounds of garbage per day. By 1999, half the cities in the U.S. will run out of landfill space.