Plastic is found everywhere, from food and beverage containers to children’s diapers and toys. But despite its usefulness and versatility, it can harm the environment severely if it’s not disposed of correctly. While many people overlook recycling, the experts at Hawaii’s Island Recycling say it’s dangerous to do so. With three locations on Oahu, they are dedicated to protecting the environment with recycling, scrap metal, and hauling services and explain the importance of taking plastic items to a recycling center.

3 Reasons to Recycle Plastic

Reduce Waste That Goes Into the Ocean

Plastic has a deadly effect on the environment and ocean wildlife. Containers, bottles, and bags left on beaches can wind up in the water. Marine animals mistake the floating plastic debris for food and eat it but can’t digest the material. This leads to thousands of animals suffering painful deaths every year.

Conserve Energy & Limited Resources

Recycling plastic items like bottles and containers reduces the need to create new plastic. In turn, this saves the energy and natural resources like water and petroleum required to produce plastic. It also keeps products out of landfills.

Decrease Pollution & Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Plastic manufacturing produces greenhouse gases, which are a primary contributor to global warming. Recycling plastic requires less energy, which reduces the use of fossil fuels and generation of greenhouse gas emissions. Plastic bottles give off toxic fumes when incinerated, so recycling also decreases air pollution.

Island Recycling on Oahu recycles plastic and a variety of other materials, including glass, copper, aluminum, and scrap steel. To learn more about their recycling solutions, visit their website. You also can determine which of their three drop-off locations is convenient for you.