“Recycling strengthens our environment and creates jobs in Minnesota. Our waste is a resource because it has economic and environmental value,” MN Pollution Control Agency Biennial Report to the Legislature

Why Should I Recycle MORE?

Most people feel good when they recycle but while “doing the right thing” is certainly one reason to recycle, there are many other very specific reasons for Minnesotans to recycle more that benefit our economy, our environment, and our energy needs.

Recycling is an easy way you can help protect our natural resources-

• When you recycle, you are actually helping reduce harmful greenhouse emissions that contribute to global warming. That’s because it takes much less energy to make products from recycled materials than from virgin materials. In fact, it takes 90% less energy to make aluminum from recycled cans and scrap than making it from scratch!
• Recycling helps protect Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and the air we breathe. Recycling reduces Greenhouse gasses, and other environmental pollutants harmful to Minnesota’s air, water, and land.
• Recycling conserves our natural resources: when one Minnesotan recycles their junk mail for a year, 7 trees are conserved

Recycling saves energy-


• In 2006, we recycled enough metal, glass and plastics to conserve 46 trillion BtU’s of energy- that’s enough energy to power all the homes in Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, Minneapolis and St. Paul, combined, for one year!
• Reducing our energy consumption means spending less money on energy: Minnesotans saved nearly $1.5 million in energy costs just by recycling their plastic in 2006. Imagine what we can save if we all do a little bit MORE.

Recycling is an important part of Minnesota’s economy-


• The recycling industry in Minnesota employs approximately 20,000 Minnesotans. By recycling and buying recycled products, you are not only saving energy and protecting our environment, but you are also helping support Minnesota’s economy.
• Our recyclable material has tremendous economic value. The 2.5 million tons we recycled last year was worth over $436 million to Minnesota’s economy. The over 1 million tons of material which could easily have been recycled but was thrown out last year, has an estimated value of $312 million dollars and it cost Minnesotans $200 million to throw it away.