Recycling & Climate change
Despite the naysayers, multiple studies have shown that recycling and waste reduction reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change!
Environmental Benefits of Recycling Paper
Recycling paper provides significant environmental benefits. Want to reduce global warming? Recycle! It’s a small, easy step that makes a big difference.
Look what Massachusetts saved by recycling!
In 2005, Massachusetts prevented the disposal of 9.6 million tons of waste through a combination of recycling, composting and other waste reduction, saving enough landfill space to eliminate the need for 22 landfills. (Source: MassDEP's Solid Waste Master Plan: 2006 Revision.)
Recycling paper and reducing waste slows global warming by conserving natural resources, saving energy and preventing pollution. As a result of recycling, in 2005, Massachusetts is estimated to have:
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 2.5 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE)* per year - Saved nearly 100 trillion BTUs of energy, equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 17 million barrels of oil or nearly 795 million gallons of gasoline
- Saved nearly 1.7 tons of iron ore, coal, and limestone and nearly 19 million trees. (Source: Environmental Benefits Calculator, Northeast Recycling Council, September 2006.)
What could we save if we recycled a million tons of the paper that we throw away in Massachusetts?
Each year, we throw away 1.5 million tons of paper in Massachusetts. What would it mean to our environment if we recycled just two-thirds of that paper instead? Using the Northeast Recycling Council Environmental Benefits Calculator, MassRecycle found that recycling 1 million tons of paper could
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 928,000 metric tons of carbon equivalents (MTCE) (or over 3 million metic tons of carbon dioxide equivalents).
- Save a total of 22 trillion BTUs of energy.
What do the nearly 22 trillion BTUs of energy that we would save each year translate to?
The amount of energy required to power 212,000 homes for one year in Massachusetts.
- The equivalent of 3.8 million barrels of oil,
- 177 million gallons of gas, or
- removing 318,000 average passenger cars off the road (or 1.6 million tons of car emissions).
What could I save in one year's time by recycling two bags of paper per week?
- The equivalent of nine trees,
- 120 gallons of fuel, and
- The production of one and a half tons of carbon dioxide.
*There is movement to use CO2 Equivalents (MTCO2) instead of Carbon Equivalents (MTCE), however U.S. EPA generally uses MTCE. To convert, multiply MTCE by 44/12 to receive MTCO2.
What are the life cycle impacts of waste and recycling?
Infographic by: Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal
Other links about climate change and recycling:
US EPA's Climate Leaders campaign
US EPA's "Climate Change - What You Can Do"
