Top 7 Benefits of Recycling

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Benefits Of Recycling By Michael Arms.

Recycling is a process – a series of activities, if you will, that includes: the collection and sorting of waste materials, the processing of these materials to produce brand new products, and the purchase and use of these new products by consumers.

Recycling is more optimized and efficient if we practice the three R’s of waste management: reduce, reuse, recycle.

Reducing waste that otherwise get’s carted off to the recycling centers or landfills is achieved through an intentional decrease in our purchases and consumption,composting of organic waste, and flat refusal to use disposable items like polystyrene and plastic bags. Reusing materials serve to lengthen a particular item’s usage. Examples of this are: repurposing glass bottles into artistic lamp shades, giving your old cell phones to family or friends for reuse, and upcycling street trash bins into community swimming tubs.

But, why recycle? Why go through all the trouble of recycling your garbage? How does recycling benefit us and the environment?

Let’s review the benefits of recycling:

Recycling Helps Protect The Environment

Recycling sharply reduces the amount of waste that gets deposited in our landfills or burned in incinerator plants. Engineered landfills in most cities are designed to contain toxic chemicals leaking from decaying solid waste from reaching our water systems. But, for how long? Already, we’re getting reports of dangerous chemicals contaminating water supplies in some cities. Burning solid waste for electricity may be efficient, but we pay the price in terms of increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Recycling Helps Conserve Limited Resources

To put this benefit in proper perspective, let’s consider this statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: “By recycling over 1 million tons of steel in 2004, Pennsylvanians saved 1.3 million tons of iron ore, 718,000 tons of coal, and 62,000 tons of limestone. Through recycling newsprint, office paper and mixed paper, we saved nearly over 8.2 million trees.”

Resources like oil and precious metals (gold, silver, bauxite, copper, etc.) are all finite resources that will be exhausted, sooner or later. Cell phone and computer manufacturers, like Dell and Apple, recognize the need for a steady supply of raw materials – most are active in buy-back programs to recycle materials from used products.

Recycling Promotes Energy Efficiency

Recycling is far more efficient, in terms of energy consumption, than producing something out of fresh raw material. Done on a nationwide scale, this could lead to significant reduction in our energy costs. The energy required to extract , process, and transport metal from a mine to a refinery is obviously much greater than what’s required to recycle metal from used products – it costs more energy to manufacture a brand new aluminum can from fresh material than to make 20 cans out of recycled materials!

Recycling Helps Build A Strong Economy

Every cost-reduction, energy efficiency, materials conservation, and job generation benefit of recycling adds up to help build a strong economy for our country. Recycling, done on a country-wide scale, has a huge positive impact on the economy. There was dip in the price of recyclables last year when the financial crisis started, but it is testimony to the resiliency of this industry that prices are now back to pre-crisis levels – a recovery that’s well ahead than most other industries. Jobs are being generated and city and town governments are enjoying huge savings in electricity, garbage collection, and landfilling costs.

Recycling Creates Jobs

Recycling generates more jobs than landfilling or incinerating waste. That’s a benefit we can’t lose sight of, in this time of recession and high unemployment rate. Let’s consider the disposal of 10,000 tons of solid waste: burning it for electricity will create 1 job; collecting and dumping this on a landfill will create 6 jobs; processing the waste for recyling will generate 36 jobs!

Recycling Builds Community

People band together and build communities around common causes, issues, and advocacies. Recycling is no different. In many neighborhoods and cities across the country, we see concerned citizens working together in recycling initiatives, environment lobby groups, and free recycling groups. If you’re new to recycling or environmental advocacy, go find a local group to work with. Staying the course is more fun and rewarding when you have other enthusiasts cheering you on.

Recycling Can Be Financially Rewarding

If you just want to make money to get by in these hard times or start a home business, recycling is a profitable option. It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to start a home-based recycling business. You just need to plan on what material (cell phone, paper, or metals, etc.) you intend to collect, plan storage, contact the recycling plant for pricing, and you’re set to start collecting recyclables and reselling these to the recycling facility at a decent profit. The large recycling giants in the US all started as home businesses years ago – you can do it, too – those guys just recognized the huge potential of this business well ahead of the crowd.

Office Recycling – 5 Ways to a Greener Business

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Office Recycling Tips By Marjorie Jackson.

Recycling has become an increasingly popular activity for homeowners all over the world. More and more families are choosing to go green and help save the environment with easy at-home solutions. From recycling and composting to reducing energy and water, keeping the environment healthy has become a huge initiative for homeowners.

What’s surprising is the lack of participation from many companies all over the country. One company (depending on the size) can have the same impact on the environment as a small village of homes. If your company could make the world a greener place, wouldn’t you want to be part of it?

Here are some simple things you can do in the office that will not only make the environment healthier but will cut back on costs as well:

1. Recycling Bins. It’s important to promote recycling within your company. Not only should employees be aware of the initiatives but all measures should be taken to ensure that recycling is as easy as possible. Place the recycle bins close to the garbage cans so employees don’t have to walk further to the bins (they might lose interest if it means more work). You may even want to give each employee a normal waste basket and a recycle one so they don’t have to leave their desks to recycle their products.

2. Water Coolers vs. Water Bottles. Water bottles are not environmentally friendly and they cost significantly more than water coolers. Opt for switching from water bottles to a single (or multiple if you work for a larger company) water cooler instead of countless water bottles.

3. Energy Efficient Dishwashers. Purchasing an energy efficient dishwasher will make a huge difference in the amount of water and energy it takes to wash your dishes every day. There are several types of energy efficient dishwashers to choose from, in a variety of price ranges to suit all budgets.

4. Email vs. Paper. Communication is an integral part of every company. More and more companies are choosing to communicate via email rather than paper. Power Point presentations are becoming increasingly popular and 10-page paper handouts are becoming a thing of the past. Some companies are even opting to do pay stubs via email to cut back on the paper usage every pay period.

5. Carpooling, Public Transportation etc. You can’t force your employees to carpool to work or take the bus instead of driving every day, but you can persuade them. A lot of companies have chosen to promote carpooling and public transportation through reward programs.

The Outlook of Recycling

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Recycling Outlook By John Kirzno.

Recycling is the process of taking used products and reusing them. Most often recycling involves collecting the waste products and processing them into a new product. Recycled items include, paper, plastic, glass and metals. There are many items that can be recycled. Recycling is something that came to the fore front as means of reducing waste and helping to save the environment from the hazards of landfills.

The Start of Recycling

Recycling was first really talked about in the 1970s. However, recycling is a natural thing. Many people recycle and do not even think about it. For example, when you buy something at a garage sale, you are recycling that item. You are taking something someone else would have thrown away and putting it to use. Recycling seemed to catch on all over.

Recycling has also seen a surge in popularity as concern is growing about global warming and environmental concerns. People have been educated about the dangers of dumping trash and they want a better future for their children. Additionally, recycling products, like aluminum cans, has been made simple through the introduction of collection bins in many different public places. There are recycle bins in stores, on the street and in many other public places that encourage you to recycle your trash. Many communities also have recycling services that pick up recyclables just like trash is collected.

Increase in Popularity, Increase in Rates

There are many ways that you can recycle for free, but if you have your recyclables collected then you usually have to pay a service fee. With the increase in the number of people recycling and the increase in operating costs, the cost of recycling is going up. Funding from government sources is being cut and that also leads to an increase in recycling rates. Recycling costs are rising and those costs are being passed onto the consumer.

Another Roadblock

Not every product can be easily recycled. This is another roadblock when it comes to recycling. If a recycling center sees an increased demand for recycling a certain product, like batteries, that must be handled specially, then they may decide to start collecting that product. This could lead to higher operating costs.

If a person has to search for a place to recycle, chances are they will just throw it in their trash and forget about it. People want recycling to be hassle free.

Metal Recycling and How to Recycle Metal

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Metal Recycling By Patrick Sharple.

Metal recycling is the most popular form of recycling in the United States. Steel and aluminum can be infinitely recycled. Scrap metal is ferrous metals (steel and iron) or nonferrous metals (tin, brass, copper, aluminum). Home appliances such as dishwasher, washing machines, stoves, and refrigerators are generally created from metal. Discarded appliances fit within 2 categories: refrigerants and non-refrigerants.

Four Stages of Metal Recycling
There are 4 stages in metal recycling: collection, processing (where metal is compacted), shredding, and selling to mini mills that produce steel. This recycling process requires 74 percent less energy than the use of virgin materials.

Useful tips for unwanted appliances:

1. When you purchase a new appliance, ask the delivery driver to take the old one with him/her. Companies either recycle the unit or properly dispose of it.

2. Ask a professional to take apart the discarded appliance and remove the recyclable parts to take to your local recycling center.

3. If the appliance is still functional, sell it on the Internet, donate to a charity, give to a friend, or list it on freecycle.com.

Benefits to Recycling Metal

Aluminum cans made their debut as beverage containers in 1965. Because of the aluminum can’s ability to be recycled over and over again, it is the most valuable recyclable container in America today. Aluminum recycling provides community, environmental, and economic benefits.

Environmental advantages include saving precious natural resources, energy and money. It only takes 2 months for an aluminum can to be recycled into a new can and put back on the shelves ready for resale. In 2007, an impressive 54 billion cans were recycled, saving the energy of 15 million barrels of crude oil.

The economic benefits of recycling aluminum cans are plentiful. Each year, the aluminum industry buys over $800 million dollars worth of empty cans to be recycled. This money can go to non-profit and charity organizations. Many such groups recycle cans to earn money for their organizations. When cans are recycled curbside, the money from the aluminum industry goes toward community services. The aluminum industry has even teamed up with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, by allowing them to leave can drop-off boxes in several locations to raise money for housing individuals and families.

Aluminum foil can usually be recycled with your aluminum cans, but before doing that, it’s always good to reuse it on other food items. Just wash it and let it dry with your dishes.

Many local super markets have recycling machines. Cans are fed into a slot and depending on which state you live in, you will get a voucher with the total amount of the cans you’ve submitted.

Learn How to Recycle Your Old Plastic Containers

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Tips To Recycle Old Plastic Containers By Terry Keenan.

The “green” movement is in full swing, and many people are thinking twice before they toss anything in the trash. People are constantly finding ways to reuse and recycle old items in order to keep them out of landfills – and possibly help out someone in need – and you can do the same with your old plastic containers.

Before you start shopping for new plastic containers, check out the five ways you can reuse and recycle your old containers below.

Donate Your Old Plastic Containers

There are several ways you can donate your old containers:

* If you’re a business owner who’s looking to purchase new wholesale plastic containers, chances are you might know another business owner who could use your old containers.
* Charities like your local Salvation Army or Goodwill can use plastic containers to better organize their merchandise.
* If you or someone in your family belongs to a sports team, special interest club, or religious organization, your containers might come in handy the next time a fundraiser rolls around.

Plastic Containers Make Great Gifts

If your container is still in pretty good shape, consider using it as a gift box the next time you have a birthday, anniversary, or holiday gift to give. Traditional cardboard gift boxes have their uses, but many people damage them when they’re opening the gift or toss them in the trash because they don’t have room to store them until they can reuse them.

Plastic containers, on the other hand, are durable and present a world of storage possibilities to the recipient. Square containers are especially good for holding gifts because they’re as easy as regular gift boxes to wrap, and small containers are lightweight and easy to handle.

Move Your Plastic Containers to the Garage

You might be in the market for new plastic containers, but that doesn’t always mean you have to get rid of your old ones. Actually, several spaces throughout your house – such as your basement, your garage, and your attic – might be screaming for a little help with organization and your old containers can provide just that.

Give Your Plastic Container a Face Lift

If you don’t have any family or friends who could use the plastic containers and you can’t think of anything you could organize with them, you still don’t have to toss them in the trash. Clear plastic containers offer many possibilities when it comes to crafts! For example, you could decorate your container using nontoxic art supplies and begin reusing it as a food scoop for your pet’s dry food. This kind of project works especially well when you use containers with handgrips.

Bring Your Old Plastic Containers to a Recycling Center

Reusing your containers, or donating them to someone who can use them, is great; however, if those aren’t options for you, you can always bring your plastic containers to your local recycling center. Be sure to check the bottom of your container for a recycling code; if there is no code or you’re unsure about whether you can even recycle your particular kind of container, make sure you call your recycling center for details.

Make Provision For Recycling in the Home

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Home Recycling Guide By Martin Miller-Yianni.

It can never be stated enough when it comes to recycling things at home. The majority of us have no real control over recycling in the business and commercial world, but we do in our own homes. There are many things you can do that will not only make a difference to the environment, but make you feel good inside as well. It may even save you money, which is another bonus.

Why not try making space next to your bin for a recycling container. It is if handy and close it will be used, this will work if you just get it organized.

Sometimes your local authority will give some sort of recycling scheme which is brought to your doorstep; make the most of it. Find out where your nearest recycling centre or information about local collection schemes that are running. This may save you a trip to dispose of your recyclable collections and save you time, petrol costs. At the same time give the council a good reason to continue this scheme or expand it with more users coming in and using it.

The majority of bottles and cans should be segregated and stored then put in the recycling bins that can be found in many public places now. Make it part of your routine to take these with you if you know you are passing them. 99% of people shop at supermarkets daily, weekly or monthly, they all have recycling facilities. If you don’t go, ask someone, perhaps a neighbour who does and get them involved!

Glass jars are thrown away by most people, they come in all shapes and sizes from spice jars to coffee jars. If you rinse them with the left over washing up water and leave to dry for a day of so on the drainer you can recycle them with all your other glass. Don’t try and waste time and energy by removing the labels,the recycling process will take care of that.

The bathroom is one of the most neglected areas of recycling. Shampoo and shower gel bottles are often just binned without thought. If you simply rinse out the empty bottles whilst you’re in the shower you will also save on water and get the last drop out of the bottle – a double saver! A recycling bin can be put in your bathroom to collect the bottles.

Plastic Bottles – Advantages of Recycling

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Plastic Recycling Techniques By Mark Ransome.

Even though we use different kinds of plastics, plastic bottles play a major role in our day to day activities. Plastic bottles are preferred by most people because they are usually lighter and do not break easily like glass materials or bottles. So it has become a common product used by everyone. Fortunately plastic is one of the materials that can be recycled after you use it, but most people don’t consider the benefits of recycling.

What is the use of recycling Plastic bottles?

By recycling the plastic bottles in five areas it can be beneficial for you and your people. The five areas are,

1. Oil
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
3. Energy
4. Reuse
5. Landfill Space

Oil Conservation:

By recycling plastic bottles we can save almost four barrels of oil. We all know how the rising price of oil affects our day to day life. The increase in the price of oil causes the rise in price of gas, food, products, and other commodities. However, people don’t really understand the importance of recycling plastic bottles.

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Can you imagine, it takes less processing to recycle things. So, this means you require less energy for new manufacturing as well as less pollution being emitted. This brings about a reduction in greenhouse gasses.

Conserving Our Energy

As we all know, recycling does not consume of much energy. You can use two-thirds the energy to manufacture from recycled products. In the case of plastic bottles, which are used in water and soft drinks and are made up of material called Polyethylene Terephthalate (PTH), one pound of recycled PET can save as much as twelve-thousand BTU’s energy.

The Benefits of ‘Reuse’
Most people think that when a plastic bottle is recycled it transformed into a similar bottle. However, the fact is that the plastic bottle you are using now will change into something completely different after the recycling process. It may become carpeting; it may be someone’s jacket or (if you can imagine) even part of someone’s deck. People need to understand this and know that recycled material is used as a resource. The water bottle that you see now will not be the same when it is recycled.

Save our Landfills

You may be thinking ‘how much room can one plastic bottle really take?’. If everyone in the USA were to think that way, imagine how many plastic bottles that would be. One of the biggest problems facing us today is that our landfills are running out of space. The need to create new landfills, which take up more space and puts more trash into our earth, is never ending. One of the only solutions left to us is to drastically reduce what we put into them.

Recycling and Reducing Paper Use

Paper Recycling Techniques By Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Article By B.L. Hill.

Just about everyone has heard about the benefits of recycling. It’s nearly impossible to read a magazine or newspaper, or watch TV without seeing or hearing some news about the various forms of recycling. Recycling paper was one of the first types of recycling to be introduced to the general public and is still one of the most often practiced kinds.

Continually cutting down trees to make paper is depleting the resources we have out there despite re-planting done by some companies. When too many trees are cleared away the natural habitat for animals and plants is destroyed. This can have a very negative effect on our society as a whole. In addition, the trees that are cut down can no longer remove the carbon dioxide from the air we breathe.

One way to reduce the number of trees being cut down for paper is to recycle paper. In this type of process the recycled paper is turned back into pulp. It gets mixed in with new pulp and turned into new types of paper. This is done so that the overall quality of the paper is still very good. When paper is recycled the fibers can weaken. Mixing them with new pulp improves the quality of the end product.

Paper recycling is simple because everyone uses paper in some capacity and you are most likely to be able to find paper recycling bins around the community. In addition to recycling the paper you use in your daily activities, reducing the amount of paper you consume is beneficial as well. Here are a few~some suggestions to help you limit the amount of paper you use everyday.

Go Paperless

One great way to reduce the amount of paper in your paper recycling bin is to go paperless as much as possible. Just about every bank, utility company, mortgage company, and credit card group offers a paperless way to take care of business. Most people already have an Internet connection in their homes, there is no reason to not make it work for you in every way. Paying bills and managing accounts online save the paper the invoices and statements are printed on as well as save you the expense of a postal stamp. While no one wants to run the postal workers out of jobs, it just makes more sense to take care of business online where ever possible. It’s faster for you, saves tons of paper, and saves money in postal costs.

Efficient Use of Your Printer Paper

Conserving paper used in is a good way of limiting your paper consumption. Let’s say you are printing some information to share with family or friends or for your own use. Instead of printing everything on one side of the copy paper only, why not print on both sides. Many printers these days have the ability to print on multiple sides so that you are using half of the paper for your project. Of course, there are times when you need to print on one side only but for many print jobs, double-sided printing is just fine.

You can also re-use some paper. If you have to print something out on only one side or it just takes one side of the paper, when you are finished with the paper, save it and print on the clean side. Keep a stack of used paper by your printer for use when you don’t care what is on the other side.

Use Recycled Paper Products

Pay attention to the paper you buy – you will find more and more of it is recycled. Many notebooks will say on the back if they are recycled or not. Even office supply companies are offering reams of recycled paper. It is still the same great quality that you want for your business so don’t worry that it has been compromised. You will feel good knowing you are doing your part to recycle and to cut down the number of wasted trees that don’t really have to be destroyed in order to have paper.

You can do your part to recycle paper by collecting it and then dropping it off at collection centers. This can include papers at home you don’t need and newspapers. Should you need to shred various types of papers though you can do so and then take the shreds for recycling. Have a set location at work for paper that can be recycled as well.