Related Terms

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Background

• Recycling is the process of collecting waste products and then sorting and reprocessing them into new products for resale. The most commonly recycled products are paper, metal, plastic, and glass. Technological improvements allow some materials, such as glass, to be recycled more than once.
• The average American throws away more than seven pounds of garbage daily.
• Trash in the United States consists of about 39% paper, 18% yard debris, 8% metal, 8% plastics, 7% glass, 7% food waste, and 14% other nonrecyclable materials. These waste products must go to landfills or incinerators, or be recycled for disposal, depending on the type and condition of the material. Of the waste collected in the United States, 67% goes to landfills, 16% is recycled, and 16% is incinerated.
• Recycling saves energy compared to the cost of manufacturing raw materials. For example, recycling glass prevents the need to mine for sand and limestone. Recycling conserves rapidly diminishing landfill space. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2000, recycling prevented 32.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. Water pollution is decreased by recycling, as less water is needed to manufacture glass, plastic, metal, etc.
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Technique

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Theory/Evidence

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Health Impact/Safety

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Future Research or Applications

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Author Information

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References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

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