Recycling

Recycling is breaking down and reusing materials instead of throwing them away. When people recycle things such as paper, metal, glass or plastic, new products can be made from the recycled material instead of using more natural resources.

Recycling also cuts down the amount of waste we create. Waste is anything that we throw away. If waste from our homes and businesses is not recycled, it is taken to a landfill, a place where trash is buried. If we don't learn to recycle our waste, more and more of our land will be used for landfills.

Many things that we use every day can be recycled. Newspapers, cardboard boxes and paper bags can be recycled and made into new paper products. Hundreds of thousands of trees are cut down every week to make paper for newspapers, packaging and other products. If people recycle their paper and use recycled paper, less waste will be created and fewer trees will be lost.

Aluminum cans that your juice or soda comes in can be recycled and made into new cans. It takes less energy to make new materials from recycled aluminum and other metals than it does to make brand-new metals. Saving energy means that fewer natural resources such as oil and coal are used to provide power.

Glass from jars and bottles also can be recycled. Glass from these products is crushed, melted down and formed into new jars and bottles. Recycling glass saves raw materials and energy.

Some plastics such as milk containers, grocery sacks and other packaging can be recycled, too. Some plastics can be melted down and used to make new products such as garbage cans. Look carefully at the plastic containers you have around your home. Almost all plastic containers are marked with a code that tells us if they can be recycled.

Even though it is good for our world, many people still don't recycle. Because of this, some cities are trying hard to get more people to recycle. Many cities have recycling programs that make it easier for us to recycle our trash. In some places, the garbage collectors will even pick up your recyclables at your home if you separate them from your non-reusable trash.

If your town does not have a recycling program, you can usually find a recycling center that will take your recyclables. Sometimes recycling centers will give you money for your aluminum cans and newspapers!