Waste reduction fast facts: General recycling
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This resource is not exhaustive nor is it all-inclusive, but can be cited and dated from primary and secondary sources. To find out more about the methodology or accuracy, contact the referenced source.
Metro does not validate nor endorse any of these facts.
- Energy savings for 2008 from recycling in Oregon equals approximately 30 trillion BTU - the equivalent of 243,000,000 gallons of gasoline, or roughly 2.7 percent of total energy used (2008) by all sectors of the economy in Oregon.This is equivalent to enough energy to fuel 289,000 homes. –Oregon DEQ, 2008 Oregon Material Recovery and Waste Generation Rates Report, September 2009
- More than 90 percent of households participate in curbside recycling in the Portland Metro region. –Metro, internal report, 2005
- The City of Portland's curbside recycling rate has increased dramatically since 1991 reports. In 2007, there was an average of 691 pounds of recyclable materials diverted per recycling customer household, comparable to 695 pounds and 700 pounds per customer in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Only 226 pounds per household was recycled in 1991, prior to the adoption of the current residential franchise system. –City of Portland; Residential Solid Waste and Recycling July '08 pg. 4
http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=41795&a=208375 - The Portland metro area is in the top 1 percent of communities of any size throughout the country in its overall recycling efforts. –Metro, internal report, 2005
- Last year, recycling in the Portland metro region reduced overall air emissions of chemicals such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulates by about 18,000 tons and reduced the amount of waterborne wastes by 3,000 tons. –Metro, internal report, 2003
- The amount of greenhouse gas reductions from recovery is significant. Recycling, in particular, is an important tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling cardboard produces the greatest benefit with nearly 1.32 million ton of CO2 equivalent, followed by paper with a little more than 800,000 tons, scrap metal with 550,000 tons and aluminum with 448,000 tons. –2008 DEQ Oregon Material Recovery and Waste Generation Rates Report, September 2009
- By recycling all of its paper, plastic, and corrugated waste generated in a year, an office building of 7,000 workers could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1,200 metric tons of carbon equivalent. This is equivalent to taking 900 cars off the road in one year. –Environmental Protection Agency, “Solid Waste and Emergency Response,” EPA 530-F-02-034, 2002
www.epa.gov/osw - In 2000, the national recycling rate of 30 percent saved the equivalent of more than five billion gallons of gasoline, reducing dependence on foreign oil by 114 million barrels. –EPA, “Resource Conservation Challenge: Campaigning Against Waste,” EPA 530-F-02-033, 2002
- There are more than 4,500 products available with recycled content. –Center for a New American Dream, May 2001
www.newdream.org/procure/factoids.html - In 2002, the almost 900,000 tons of paper, glass, metals and plastics recycled in the Metro region had an average economic value of almost $64 million. –Metro, internal report, 2005
http://www.metro-region.org/article.cfm?articleID=5561 - Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job; landfilling 10,000 tons of waste creates six jobs; recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 36 jobs. –EPA, “Resource Conservation Challenge: Campaigning Against Waste,” EPA 530-F-02-033, 2002
- In 2000, the U.S. recycling industry employed over 1.1 million people and generated an annual payroll of $37 billion, representing a significant force in the country’s economy, job creation and economic development. –National Recycling Coalition, “US Recycling Economic Information Study, Final Report,” Prepared for the National Recycling Coalition by R.W. Beck Inc., July 2001
http://www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/rei/docs/fullreireport.pdf - The global recycling industry employs more than 1.5 million people. –Worldwatch Institute, State of the World 2004 Special Focus: The Consumer Society, January 2004,I SBN: 0-393-32539-3