How does recycling impact us?

Answer 1

Recycling has a positive impact on our environment. The first and most basic impact is that of resource conservation. Every product we use is made from materials that are extracted from the earth. The more materials we recycle, the less we have to extract from the planet thereby conserving for future generations.

The other impact is one many people aren't aware of and is likely the most important. Recycling consumes less energy and water and generates less emissions and pollution than making products from virgin materials. For instance, it takes 20 times as much energy to make aluminum from recycling old aluminum than by making it from bauxite (aluminum ore). Recycling paper requires only about 65% of the energy required to make paper from trees. It also uses thousands of gallons per ton less water to recycle and produces substantially less air and water pollution.