11 Facts About Recycling

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1. The average person generates over 4 pounds of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year.^[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Municipal Solid Waste." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
2. Americans make more than 200 million tons of garbage each year, enough to fill Busch Stadium from top to bottom twice a day. Next time you’re at a sporting event or tailgate, host a trash-free tailgate using only recyclable materials Sign up for Trash-Free Tailgate.^[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "10 FAST FACTS ON RECYCLING." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
3. The EPA estimates that 75% of the American waste stream is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it.^[Indiana University. "Waste & Recycling." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
4. We generate 21.5 million tons of food waste each year. If we composted that food, it would reduce the same amount of greenhouse gas as taking 2 million cars off the road.^[Carnegie Mellon University. "CEE Green Team." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
5. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to listen to a full album on your iPod. Recycling 100 cans could light your bedroom for two whole weeks. Sign up for 5 Cans Challenge to save energy and show off your creative side.^[East Carolina University. "Some Facts on Your Lifestyle and Travel Footprint." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
6. The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) estimates that the 36 billion aluminum cans landfilled last year had a scrap value of more than $600 million.^[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "10 FAST FACTS ON RECYCLING." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
7. Americans throw away about 28 billion bottles and jars every year.^[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "10 FAST FACTS ON RECYCLING." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
8. Over 87% of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs.^[Keep America Beautiful. "Recycling Facts & Statistics." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
9. In 2009, Americans threw away almost 9 million tons of glass. That could fill enough tractor trailers to stretch from NYC to LA (and back!).^[Keep America Beautiful. "Recycling Facts & Statistics." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
10. In 2010, paper recycling had increased over 89% since 1990.^[Keep America Beautiful. "Recycling Facts & Statistics." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]
11. A glass container can go from a recycling bin to a store shelf in as few as 30 days.^[Keep America Beautiful. "Recycling Facts & Statistics." Web Accessed April 25, 2015.]