As garbage accumulates, it’s customary to tie the bag and toss it in a trash can. However, the consequences of throwing it out just to cross it off your to-do list are substantial. By recycling, you can do your part to keep the environment clean of hazardous materials, such as plastic and metal. Here are just three of the many reasons to take care of the world with this simple task.

3 Environmental Benefits of Recycling

1. Save Energy

When manufacturing companies make products out of new materials, they have to take several steps to turn a raw resource into a functional fabric. This, in turn, requires the use of more energy. When working with recycled materials, these steps can be eliminated, shrinking the plant’s carbon footprint. For example, by recycling a glass bottle, you can save enough energy to power a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.

2. Reduce Landfill Waste

If you throw that soda can or plastic container right in the trash can, it will end up in a landfill somewhere, never to be used again. In addition to taking up precious space, landfills can also actively harm the environment. For example, toxic chemicals and liquid waste can seep into surrounding soil and water tables, as well as release noxious gases into the air. The more you recycle and reuse materials, the smaller landfills will be.

3. Protect Ecosystems

If wood, plastic, and metal from objects that have already been made aren’t reused, more natural resources will need to be harvested to make additional ones. Unfortunately, the growing, harvesting, and mining processes are not kind to the planet’s ecosystems. These processes take habitats away from wildlife, and pollute the ones that are left. For example, plastic waste is often carried away from landfills by runoff, where it collects in oceans, compromising marine life. 

If you’re hoping to protect the environment with your recycling efforts, turn to Sterling Superior Services to get started. This New London County, CT, company has over 18 years of experience in waste management, and they will gladly ensure your trash makes it to the right place. They have a separate facility, Superior Recycling, that handles recyclables. To learn more about their services, including roll-off dumpster rentals, visit their website or call (860) 642-7351.