The benefits of, and reasons for recycling are numerous. They include helping the environment, saving energy, reducing waste buried in landfills, and creating and retaining local jobs.
Why Recycle?
Columbus Climate Action Plan: Greenhouse gas emissions
from the waste sector are directly tied to methane emissions, which are 25
times as harmful as CO2e. As the population of Columbus is projected to
continue growing, landfill space becomes more constrained. It will be the most
efficient use of public dollars to reduce the volume of waste and amount of
physical space needed to contain it.
A significant amount of landfill waste is readily able
to be diverte in recycling streams without any infrastructure changes or new program
implementation from metal, glass, paper and plastics. The regional recycling
industry in Columbus supports six times more jobs than landfilling, and 80% of
the recycled materials stay in the local area. Programs to further spread
education and awareness should be implemented throughout the city to increase
participation and proper use of the different waste and recycling streams.
The City of Columbus, through our city’s Climate Action
Plan has a target of 40% reduction in recyclable waste landfilled by 2030 and a
95% reduction by 2050. This will result in a greenhouse gas impact of 278,687
metric tons. Find out more about the Climate Action Plan here: https://www.columbus.gov/sustainable/
Why is Recycling Important:
Recycling creates a more resilient economy for local
businesses and residents, provides opportunities for innovation and creates a
brighter, safer future for all of us, including our kids.
Recycling does not just conserve natural resources like
timber and minerals; it also reduces the amount of energy required to create
goods. More efficient processes help reduce greenhouse gas emissions which
contribute to adverse health impacts from air pollution and human-caused
climate change.
Recycling also creates well-paying jobs in recycling and
manufacturing industries. A study completed by SWACO in 2018 indicates that
recycling-related industries in central Ohio employ an estimated 5,000 people
and generate over a billion dollars in revenue annually.
In 2019, over 76% of landfilled materials in Franklin
County could have been recycled and had a potential value of $23 million!
Find out more about the importance of Recycling at www.RecycleRight.org