How do I Recycle Aluminum Cans?
By Ann Deiterich, Demand Media
According to the EPA, in 2009, Americans recycled only about 51 percent of aluminum beverage cans.
Recycling aluminum cans offers a dual benefit. It reduces the solid waste stream and may put money in your pocket. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 2009, soda and beer cans made up the largest source of aluminum waste. Of 1,360,000 tons of cans, consumers discarded 670,000 tons (see References 1, pages 47 and 49). That's a lot of cash in the trash. Every can you recycle reduces the stress on landfills and may be worth money to you.
Recycling Your Aluminum Cans
Step 1:
Locate a recycling center near you. Contact your local municipality to find out if curbside recycling is available in your neighborhood. If not, local officials may be able to tell you if there is a nearby municipal drop-off center or buy-back recycling center.
Step 2:
Find a place for your aluminum collection container, such as next to your trashcan, to make recycling aluminum as easy as putting cans in the trash. If you don't have curbside recycling, use a large container to reduce the number of trips you make to your recycling center.
Step 3:
Rinse cans before placing them in your collection bin to cut down on insects and odors. There is no need to crush cans before recycling them; however, doing so can save you space in your home and at the curb, or unnecessary trips to the recycling center.
Step 4:
Load your recycling containers into your vehicle to take them to your recycling center when your container is full. Taking full loads cuts down on gas use and vehicle emissions; this also benefits the environment.
Step 5:
Get cash for yourself or to help others. Identify civic organizations or charities that recycle aluminum cans to raise funds. Search for for-profit recycling centers or scrap dealers that pay individuals for recycled aluminum cans in your local phone book or online.
In many households, particularly those that consume a great deal of soda or preserved foods, cans are a large part of the weekly load of garbage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, aluminum and steel -- the materials that make up soft drink and soup cans -- are the most common metals that people bring to recycling centers (see References 1). When garbage day comes, you can lighten your trash bags and help the environment by finding ways to recycle cans.
Step 1:
Drop aluminum and steel cans off at a recycling center or leave them out for curbside pickup if your city provides that service. In many states, centers pay you by weight for the cans you return. (See References 1)
Step 2:
Reuse steel cans by turning them into household organizers. The EPA notes that reuse is an important part of keeping items out of the waste stream; reuse also saves the energy used in recycling processes (see References 3). Take the labels off of cans and sand down the sharp edges at the opening. Cover the cans with craft paper and use them in the house to organize office supplies or kitchen utensils. You can nail a grid of cans to a board and hang it on the wall for a mail organizer.
Step 3:
Make miniature planters out of steel and aluminum cans. Instead of buying new planters, wrap larger cans in water-resistant wallpaper; you can use them indoors or outdoors (see References 4), Cut off the tops of aluminum cans and poke small holes in the bottom for seedling planters, and use cans to hold plants in the garden before they are ready to be put in the ground.
Step 4:
Transform aluminum cans into pieces of art. The light, flexible, colorful material makes it useful for a variety of art projects. Cut shapes for use in jewelry, make small model cars or airplanes, or even stitch pieces together to design bags. Fold small squares of aluminum and glue them to a frame for a custom design, or bend pieces to form metal flowers.
Aluminum cans and plastics are two of the most commonly recycled materials in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Recycling plastics and aluminum cans decreases the need for landfill space and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Both materials begin the recycling process in the same manner: collection at curbside or drop-off sites and delivery to processing sites. Plastics require extensive sorting compared to aluminum cans, but the resulting material is more versatile.
Facts and Figures
Plastics account for more than 12 percent of all municipal solid wastes, which equals 30 million tons per year. However, only about 7 percent of those plastics were recovered from recycling in 2009, states the EPA. The most commonly recycled plastics include jars and bottles. (See References 1) Aluminum products account for 1.4 percent of municipal solid wastes. The majority of aluminum wastes include beverage cans and other containers. In 2009 more than half of all aluminum cans produced came from recycled aluminum. (See References 2) Recycling aluminum uses 95 percent less energy than creating it from scratch; recycling plastics uses about 70 percent less energy than creating new materials.
Recycling Aluminum
Aluminum cans are inspected for dirt and separated from other food or beverage containers. After a refining process, the aluminum cans are melted into solid metal blocks called ingots. These blocks ship to manufacturers that form the metal into new aluminum cans. (See References 2)
Recycling Plastic
Since there are multiple types of plastic, each containing different materials, plastics must be sorted before recycling. The resin code, which appears on the bottom of many plastic products, indicates the type of plastic. Workers at recycling plants will clean and sort the plastics. Machines grind the plastics into flakes and immerse them in a flotation tank to remove contaminants. After the plastic flakes dry, they are melted and shaped into pellets. Manufacturers purchase the plastic pellets, which can be melted again and shaped into new products.
Buyers of Recycled Products
While the majority of recycled aluminum is made into new cans, an increasing amount of aluminum goes to automobile manufacturers. Aluminum auto parts are lightweight and increase fuel efficiency in vehicles. (See References 2) Manufacturers of clothing, furniture, beverage bottles, textiles and carpets purchase recovered plastics. More recycled-plastics manufacturing is possible in the U.S., but recycling centers are not receiving enough plastic recyclables to support increased production. (See References 1)
Recycling does more than just keep renewable resources from the landfill --- it reduces your impact on the environment beyond your immediate sphere. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, much of the municipal waste stream is recyclable, but the average American throws out more than 1,130 pounds of garbage per year (see References 1). The agency reports that besides saving landfill space, recycling glass, aluminum and plastic containers saves a considerable amount of energy compared to creating new products from raw materials .
Glass
Most of the glass salvaged through recycling is made into new bottles and jars. Glass recycling involves crushing waste glass into small pellets known as cullet. Manufacturers create new containers from up to 70 percent cullet, mixing it with raw materials to achieve specific color or quality standards. According to the Glass Packaging Institute, each 10 percent of cullet in the mix reduces the energy required to make new containers by 2 to 3 percent. Using less energy also helps manufacturing equipment like furnaces last longer. (See References 2)
Aluminum
Aluminum recycling is a very efficient process --- manufacturers can melt down and reuse aluminum from reclaimed containers repeatedly with little loss in quality. According to The Aluminum Association, creating an aluminum can out of recycled materials requires only 5 percent as much energy as creating a brand new can from bauxite ore. (See References 3) The EPA estimates that recycling one ton of aluminum saves the equivalent of almost 32 barrels of oil, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the manufacturing process.
Plastic
Plastic recycling programs exist throughout the United States; one of the most commonly collected plastics is No. 1-coded polyethylene terepthalate, or PET. Widely used in drink containers, PET is recycled into products like carpeting and jackets (see References 6). It takes about 1/10th as much energy to recycle plastics as it does to create plastic from raw materials (see References 5). However, due to alterations in the chemical structure during the recycling process, many plastics become different types of products once recycled (see References 6).
Other Recycling Benefits
While recycling produces energy savings, consumption of natural resources and environmental impacts are also important considerations. Recycling aluminum reduces the need to mine fresh bauxite ore to meet demand, lessening environmental damage caused by the mining process. Plastic may not be as repeatedly recyclable as aluminum, but finding new uses for reclaimed plastics conserves petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Glass production uses common raw materials like quartz sand, but the energy saved by manufacturing with recycled glass reduces carbon emissions.
Plastic bottles are hugely popular these days for their convenience and perceived purity, as portrayed by effective marketing strategies. But according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, consumers should not assume that bottled water is any more pure or safe than tap water (see References 1). Reusing plastic drink bottles is not recommended, as it increases the likelihood of impurities due to the introduction of bacteria and the potential leaching of plastic compounds into the water.
Common Types of Plastic Drinking Bottles
Polyethylene terephthalate or PET plastics (No. 1) are most commonly used for disposable plastic water bottles. High-density polyethylene, or HDPE (No. 2); low-density polyethylene, or LDPE (No. 4); and polypropylene (No. 5) are also used for drinking containers, though less frequently. PVC (No. 3) and styrene (No. 6) are sometimes used for food and beverage containers but are generally considered unsafe for this purpose. No. 7 plastics are a mix of different plastics and generally contain bisphenol A (BPA), which is under much scrutiny for its potential health risks. (See References 2)
Bacteria Concerns
All plastic bottles, when reused, are subjected to high levels of bacteria due to contact with hands and mouths, creating moist conditions that encourage bacteria growth. According to a study of water bottles at one elementary school, the bacteria levels were high enough that health officials would have issued boil-water advisories had the samples come from the tap (see References 6). Water bottles can be washed with warm soapy water and allowed to dry before being reused. But the process of washing and agitation has been shown to damage the structure of the bottle, causing release of chemical compounds (see References 3).
Leaching Concerns
PET and BPA plastics are the most common types of containers for water and other drinks. Both PET plastics and BPA plastics have been shown to leach over time. PET plastics tend to leach when exposed to realistic though extreme conditions, such as exposure to sunlight, heat and storage time (see References 4). The Harvard School of Public Health has shown that exposure to BPA can interfere with reproductive development in animals. It has also been linked with cardiovascular disease and diabetes in humans (see References 3).
Safe Alternatives to Reusing Plastic Bottles
Stainless steel bottles are considered the safest alternative to plastic bottles. They are durable and do not leach. Aluminum bottles may also be considered, but Toxic-Free Canada warns that some aluminum bottles have lining that may still leach chemicals. Glass is another safe alternative but less practical due to its breakable nature.
Throughout the United States, periodic droughts can leave water in short supply. Reusing and recycling water helps decrease demand and ensure more water is available for everyone. Water can be recycled at an individual level by homeowners, or at a municipal or county level through nonpotable and indirect potable reuse.
Greywater Recycling
Greywater is household wastewater from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines; it has not come into contact with feces or passed through a toilet (see References 1 and 2). Some intrepid homeowners recycle their greywater by using it to water their lawns or gardens or by using it to flush their toilets (see References 1). The greywater can be treated first, or it may be used untreated; under no circumstances, however, should it contain bleaches, dyes, bath salts, fabric softeners or detergents containing boron --- an excess of boron is toxic to plants (see References 1 and 2). Note that different states have different regulations governing greywater reuse --- check with local authorities for details.
Tips for Greywater Recycling
If you plan to recycle your greywater, it's essential to ensure that nothing potentially corrosive or toxic to your plants goes down your drain (see References 1 and 2). If the water you use to wash dishes is untreated, it may contain grease and fats, so it's not suitable for use as greywater. Greywater with excess salt is also potentially damaging to plants. If you are using your greywater to flush your toilet, pump or discharge it into the toilet bowl --- do not feed it directly into the toilet tank, which could cause a blockage. Treating your greywater increases the cost of the system but may avoid some of these issues. A settling tank or septic tank can help remove many kinds of contaminants, and the addition of an aerator can increase the oxygen content of the water. Filters and chlorination are other options.
Nonpotable Reuse
Municipalities treat sewage before releasing it into the environment. Primary treatment removes solid objects, grit, oils and grease; sewage that has passed through primary treatment only is unfit for reuse. Secondary and tertiary treatments use an aeration basin, where microbes consume organic waste, followed by clarification, disinfection and filtering (see References 3 and 4). Water from a secondary treatment process can be used to irrigate nonfood crops or for industrial cooling, while water from a tertiary treatment process can be used for landscape and golf course irrigation, crop watering or toilet flushing. This kind of water is called nonpotable, because it's not intended for human consumption; consequently, this recycled water must be kept separate from the city water supply.
Indirect Potable Reuse
Some cities and counties have turned instead to indirect potable reuse, where wastewater is purified to exceed drinking water quality standards and then added to reservoirs or aquifers to indirectly augment the potable water supply (see References 5 and 6). In Orange County, for example, the Groundwater Replenishment System uses wastewater to produce up to 70 million gallons of potable water per day, as of 2011. The end product is pumped into The United States and many other heavily populated countries may face prolonged and severe drought conditions in the next several decades (see References 2). Faced with the potential for water-usage restrictions, many homeowners are investigating ways to reuse greywater, which is water from sinks and showers that is not contaminated with human waste. Approximately 74 percent of water used in most homes becomes greywater that could be safely reclaimed and reused.
Gathering Greywater
Attaching a hose or three-way valve to the drain pipe of a sink, shower or washing machine is the most common method for collecting greywater. Water drains into this pipe and out to a collection barrel or directly into the garden. If your system uses a three-way valve, you can switch between collecting greywater and allowing it to flow into the sewer or septic tank.
Mulch Basins
Homeowners should filter greywater before use to remove large particles. This filtering occurs naturally when greywater is used to water trees, bushes and other landscape plants; topsoil acts as a filter before the greywater reaches the roots of the plants. Some greywater systems use mulch basins -- mounds of mulch creating a basin or moat with the plant or plants in the center -- to filter greywater. Simply remove the mulch and replace it as needed.
Outdoor Use
When using greywater outdoors, do not to allow the water to pool or collect. Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and poses the risk of contact with children and pets. While the chance of illness from contact with greywater is minimal, there is always the risk that it has been contaminated with human or pet feces. Avoid using toxic soaps, shampoos and cleaning supplies with a greywater system. Many of these products contain chemicals such as boron or chlorine bleach that are toxic to plants. (See References 3.)
Indoor Use
The most common indoor use of greywater is for flushing toilets. The bucket method is simplest. Use a bucket to catch clear water that would normally be wasted waiting for the shower or bath to heat up. Pour this water into the toilet bowl for flushing. Placing greywater into the toilet tank can damage the flushing mechanism.
U.S. citizens do better with recycling paper than any other recyclable; with the exception of auto batteries (see References 1 and 2). Offices and public spaces make it increasingly easy to toss a newspaper or magazine you're done reading into a recycling bin. Nonetheless, the numbers also show there's still room to make progress to realize the full environmental benefits of recycling newspapers and magazines.
Waste Generation Rates
Americans use enormous amounts of paper each year, equivalent to one 100-foot tall tree per person per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Significant amounts of that paper come in the form of newspapers and magazines. Each year, publishers in the United States print 350 million magazines and 24 billion newspapers.
Recycling Rates
U.S. citizens also recycle large amounts of paper each year. Newspapers are recycled at a fairly high rate of about 73 percent, while magazines are recycled at a far lower rate of about 20 percent, according to the Newspaper Association of America and the Magazine Publishers Association. However, both percentages have been increasing in recent years.
Recycling Benefits
Recycling newspapers and magazines results in many benefits beyond minimizing the need to harvest trees for new paper. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions because making paper from trees requires far more energy than making paper from recycled items. Making paper from trees also requires more water. Recycling keeps your old newspapers and magazines from cluttering the landfill as well. Recycling 1 ton of paper conserves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
Recycling Process
Recycling newspapers and magazines results in post-consumer recycled paper, meaning that the paper has already been used by a consumer versus coming directly from a paper manufacturing facility (see References 4). Recycled paper is combined with water in a machine called a pulper that separates paper fibers from each other and from other substances, such as inks or contaminants. The length of the paper fibers determines the uses of the recycled paper it generates. Long-fiber papers can make a variety of products, but short-fiber papers -- like newsprint -- can only make other short-fiber products. (See References 5) Recycled newspapers make products like egg cartons, packing material, animal bedding, writing paper, facial tissues, cardboard boxes and cardstock packaging. Once paper fibers become too short, they can no longer produce new paper. A paper can be recycled five to seven times before the fibers become too short. (See References 5) Recycling magazines requires more special treatment than recycling newspapers, which contain only ink in addition to the paper. Magazines contain not only large quantities of colored ink but also glossy coatings and adhesives to hold the pages together. These additives must be removed before the paper can be recycled. (See Resources 1) Both chemical and mechanical processes break up paper additives and separate them from the paper fibers.
Recycling is one of the easiest ways to "go green." Local governments provide more than half of U.S. households with regular curbside pickups of recyclables, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and you can also recycle items through drop-off, buy-back and deposit-refund programs (see References 4). Recycling efforts make a difference to the environment, but with an overall recycling rate of just over one-third of trash produced, people still throw away too many things instead of recycling.
Prevents Pollution
The average American generated 4.34 pounds of trash daily in 2009, according to the EPA. Of this, 1.46 pounds went to recycling or composting. Recycling keeps these materials from the landfill or incinerator, where other waste creates greenhouse gases that increase global warming. For example, the EPA estimates that recycling 7 million metric tons of metals in 2009 prevented 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions -- equal to the annual emissions of 5 million cars.
Conserves Energy
Recycling requires energy for processing to make new things from old materials. While reducing what you use and reusing items does more to save energy than recycling, the EPA points out that manufacturing things from recycled materials usually requires less energy than making a new product. The agency estimated that, in 2005, the energy saved from recycling was enough to power 6 million households for one year. (See References 2)
Conserves Resources
Because using recycled materials reduces the amount of new materials harvested, mined or produced, recycling saves natural resources. Recycling metals limits the impacts of mining, which leads to the destruction of natural environments and produces large quantities of waste muds (see References 3). Likewise, recycling paper not only reduces the number of trees harvested, but also reduces the amount of water needed in the manufacturing process, compared to making paper from virgin materials. The EPA estimates that recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water (see References 2).
Reality vs. Ability
The fact that Americans recycled only 33.8 percent of the trash they produced in 2009 shows that there is the potential to do more. For example, people recycled 74.2 percent of office-type paper and 66 percent of steel cans, but only 50.7 percent of aluminum beverage cans, 31.1 percent of glass containers and less than 30 percent of easily recyclable plastics.
Many of us think of newspapers when we think of recycling paper, but most paper products are recyclable. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that 86 percent of U.S. residents had access to either curbside recycling programs or a community recycling center in 2005; that rose slightly to 87 percent in 2010, so nearly everyone can recycle paper. (See References 1 and 5) Since paper accounts for about 35 percent of the municipal solid waste in this country and recycling saves 3.3 cubic feet of landfill space per ton of recovered paper, it makes sense to recycle it. (See References 2, 3)
What Paper is Recyclable
There are five types or grades of paper that are commonly recycled: old corrugated cardboard, mixed paper, old newspaper, high-grade de-inked paper and pulp substitutes (See References 1). Only the first three are likely to concern the average recycler as the others are by-products of industrial processing prior to further recycling. For the most part, old cardboard or paperboard boxes, magazines, newspapers, catalogs, office papers and discarded mail are recyclable.
Where to Recycle
Recycling centers accept only those kinds of papers that they have equipment to handle. Contact your local recycling centers and ask what papers they collect or process and whether you must pre-sort. To find a recycling center, check the EPA's paper waste recycling information page --- "Where You Live" --- for links to guide you to an appropriate facility in your community.
Organizing and Sorting
For any recycling program to work, organization is key. Clearly mark bins and place them in areas where every member of the family can reach and use them. Unless local ordinances require a specific bin, an appropriately labeled, waterproof container near outdoor garbage bins will work for curbside recycling. If you take paper waste to a recycling center yourself, place a large bin in the garage --- where it will be handy for transport --- and empty smaller household bins into it as they fill. Locate the smaller bins near kitchen waste baskets, the printer in your home office or wherever you regularly use paper.
Waste Reduction
Reducing the amount of paper you buy in the first place is the best way to begin. To save forests from unnecessary logging, buy in bulk when possible or buy items with minimal packaging. Take reusable cloth bags to bring purchases home from the store. When buying paper products such as office supplies, household tissues or magazines, look for products made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper.
Reusing and Up-cycling
Most paper is recyclable, but if facilities are unavailable in your area, find other ways to reuse scrap paper around the house, such as lining a table for painting or in potty training a puppy. Scrap paper is also invaluable for "up-cycling" into craft projects. Use colorful photos from magazines in collages or scrapbooking projects, or shredded paper for paper mâché pinatas. Reuse papers printed on one side only for shopping lists or kids' sketch pads. Even used paper is a valuable resource.
Worms eat kitchen scraps, quickly turning your waste into rich, dark compost. This method of recycling kitchen waste is called vermicomposting. When using worms to dispose of kitchen waste, not only are you making a difference by keeping food scraps out of the landfill, you are making great soil for the garden. The term vermiculture refers to the method of using worms to recycle kitchen scraps into garden soil.
Red Wigglers
Not any worm will do for vermacomposting, but red worms, Eisenia foetida, also called red wigglers, fit the job perfectly(see reference 2). These light-sensitive worms feed on kitchen scraps. The worms also eat up their bedding, turning it into compost along with the rest. Red worms exist in a specific temperature range between 55 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit (see reference 1). The worms survive periods above and below this temperature, as long as the temperature range stays between 32 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the University of Nebraska.
Vermiculture Boxes
Getting started in vermiculture recycling requires a few simple materials. A box with a loose-fitting lid and 1/4-inch holes drilled in the sides and bottom keep the environment dark, facilitates drainage and allows enough air circulation so the worms don't suffocate. Ideal worm boxes, made from plastic or wood, are only 8- to 12-inches tall (see reference 1). Red worms live in the top 8 to 12 inches of the soil so a deeper box will only create room for rotting vegetable matter to collect. Boxes range in size and can cover as large an area as desired. Consider several smaller boxes rather than one big one to make managing the worm habitat easier.
Worm Bedding Material
A good bedding is the first step to preparing a vermicompost bin. The bedding provides a habitat for the worms to live in and protects them from light while staying damp. As you add vegetable scraps to the bin, the worms devour the bedding material and the compost material, turning it all into rich, dark soil. Shredded corrugated cardboard makes the best bedding, according to the University of Nebraska. It holds moisture well and provides a light bedding for the worms. Shredded newspaper and computer paper also works in the worm bin. With the increased popularity of vermiculture, commercially mixed bedding materials are showing up on the market.
Recycled Kitchen Waste
Kitchen waste builds up daily making compost a constant and ongoing process. This is ideal for red worms. Adding small amount of kitchen scraps daily allows the worms to work on the pile daily. Too much, added too quickly, will rot before the worms get around to it. Leafy vegetables and root vegetables keep worms happiest. Other materials suitable for the vermicompost bin are egg shells, coffee grounds and coffee filters, tea, fruit peelings and grains. Worms do not do well on a diet that includes meat and dairy products or fatty fried foods.
Every day you face a choice of whether to recycle or simply discard an item. Statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show that in 2009, the amount of trash sent to landfills nationwide averaged nearly three pounds daily, per person, in contrast to about one and one-half pounds of materials recycled (see References 1, page 9). From a green living perspective, the benefits of recycling compared to the drawbacks of landfilling makes recycling an easy decision.
Land and Resources
Recycling can have a significant impact on the amount of property needed for landfill space. In 1996, despite recycling only about one-fourth of discarded items, U.S. recycling efforts forestalled the creation of 64 new landfills (see References 1, page 2, and References 2). Recycling also prevents the destruction of forests and other natural resources used to provide virgin materials for paper, glass containers and aluminum cans, and prevents massive amounts of water from being used to mine, refine and manufacture products. The EPA estimates that recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water. (See References 2) That amounted to a savings of 714 million trees and 294 billion gallons of water in 2009, when people in the U.S. recycled more than 42 million tons of paper (see References 1, page 5).
Energy Use
Recycling has a significant positive effect by reducing the amount of energy needed to make products from new materials. When recyclables go to the landfill, more materials must be mined, harvested or refined to replace the discarded item. These are energy-intensive processes, and recycling removes these steps entirely, producing energy savings. For example, making an aluminum can made from recycled materials requires only 5 percent as much energy as making a can from virgin materials. While energy savings aren't as dramatic for other items, in all cases products made from recycled materials require less energy than those made from new, according to the EPA. (See References 2)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Energy savings also mean fewer greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change. The EPA reports that in 2009, 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions were eliminated through recycling more than 7 million tons of metals, equal to taking almost 5 million cars off the road in a single year (see References 1, page 2). In the case of landfills, diverting materials to recycling also decreases greenhouse gas emissions. Landfills produce gases consisting of about 50 percent methane and 50 percent carbon dioxide, and are the third largest source of human-produced methane in the U.S. (see References 3).
Economic Benefits
Landfill space costs money for state and local governments, which do not receive a monetary return on this investment. Recycling, on the other hand, produces income that not only offsets the cost of establishing recycling facilities but also generates significant income through tax revenues for local, state and federal governments. The EPA reports that recycling enterprises produce an estimated $236 billion in annual revenues. Recycling also provides employment for millions of people, generally offering wages above the national average and frequently providing jobs in urban areas with above-average unemployment rates.
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