The energy saved from recycling one aluminum can will operate a computer for three hours. (Source: California Integrated Waste Management Board)

Recycling a ton of materials in a typical curbside recycling program results in a net energy savings of $187. (Source: California Integrated Waste Management Board, (916) 341-6000, http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/ )

The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will operate a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. (Source: California Integrated Waste Management Board)

In 2003 Flathead County Landfill collected:
* 9,009 appliances
* 2,623 appliances with CFC's.   To learn about recycling appliances click here.

Each year, steel recycling saves 76 percent of the energy needed to make steel from iron ore. This recycling of steel saves the energy equivalent of electrically powering about one-fifth of the households in the United States, or about 18 million homes for one year. (Source: Steel Recycling Institute, (202) 496-9686, http://www.recycle-steel.org/)

The 3.3 million tons of paper, glass, metals and plastic New Jersey recycled in 1995 saved a total of about 52.5 trillion BTU's of energy, equal to 8 percent of all energy used by industry in the state, or enough to power over 274,000 homes. (Source: Northeast Recycling Council, (802) 254-3636. http://www.nerc.org/ )

In 1996, 408 trillion BTU's - equivalent to energy used by 4 million households, or 0.5 percent of all energy use nationwide - was saved as a result of recycling. In 2005, recycling is conservatively projected to save 605 trillion BTU's, equal to the energy used in 6 million households. (Source: White House Task Force on Recycling, (202) 564-0188, http://www.ofee.gov/)

Recycling one ton of glass saves 10 gallons of oil. Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, arch1999

Plastic bags are made from polyethylene: a thermoplastic made from oil. Reducing our use of plastic bags will decrease our foreign oil dependency. Click here to biew a slideshow about the toxicity of plastic bagts and what you can do.