By now, most everyone knows that recycling paper, glass and aluminum is good for the environment. Recycling reduces the amount of space needed in landfills, conserves our natural resources, and decreases pollution. But how many of you know that recycling also gives back to the community in dollars and cents? Recycling provides jobs to the local economy, reduces municipal waste disposal fees, and generates tax revenue. Here’s how recycling puts green back into our pockets.
Your local government’s charges for trash disposal are based upon the amount of trash disposed of by the community. So think about making your trash can lighter! The lighter you and your neighbors can make your trash cans, the more you help your city or county reduce disposal costs.
Jobs. It’s a hot button topic these days. But recycling can help. Recycling provides jobs to people who drive collection routes, people who sort materials at the materials recovery facility and people who prepare and transport recycled materials for regional manufacturers. Regional manufacturers depend on recycled materials to produce their end product whether it is recycled glass, paper, plastic or metal. In Virginia, there are over 15 manufacturers that need recycled materials for their manufacturing processes. Those manufacturers generate over $3.6 billion in sales and employ more than 3,700 Virginians in their manufacturing facilities. Now that’s some serious green!
To encourage growth in the recycled goods sector, manufacturers need us to recycle. They need to be assured that they will have a steady stream of materials available to make their products. But remember, it’s not always about how much you recycle; it’s about how well you recycle. Contamination by non-recyclable products takes a serious toll on the efficiency of the recycling process. If we all make a commitment to recycling more and recycling better, we have the opportunity to save money, make money and live in a greener Hampton Roads.
Find out more about recycling at home, recycling at school and recycling at work to make the most of our recycling efforts here in Hampton Roads.