Recycling facts and benefits
In 2006 Minnesota recycled 2.5 million tons of waste. That translates to huge savings for landfills, incinerators, greenhouse gas emissions, natural resources, and energy use.
Our recyclable material has tremendous economic value. The 2.5 million tons we recycled in 2006 was worth over $436 million to Minnesota’s economy. The 1.3 million tons of material which could easily have been recycled but was thrown out last year, has an estimated value of $312 million dollars, it cost Minnesotans $200 million to throw that material away.
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!
LANDFILL & INCINERATOR SAVINGS
We didn't need about 5 large garbage incinerators because of our recycling efforts.
or
We didn't need about 10 large landfills because of our recycling efforts.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTIONS
We reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking
1.3 million cars off the road because we recycled.
ENERGY SAVINGS
We didn't need to produce the equivalent amount of energy
required to power 408,874 homes because we recycled.
NATURAL RESOURCES SAVINGS
We didn't need 214,623 tons of coal because we recycled in Minnesota.
6,893,868 trees did not get cut down because of
recycling paper in Minnesota.
The latest data from 2006 compiled by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
