I purchased a plastic tote with a lid the other day that was made from 100% recycled plastic. The label stated that 2.9 litres of oil was saved by using recycled plastic.
Saving resources is a major reason recycling is good for the environment.
What kinds of things do the items you recycle become?
Cascades Recovery is the company recyclables are sent to in Winnipeg. They send materials on for recycling into the following new products:
Cardboard is made into new cardboard or boxboard like cereal boxes.
Boxboard is made into new boxboard.
Newspapers become new newspapers, magazines or boxboard.
Mild cartons and juice boxes (Tetra Paks) and office paper is recycled into tissues like ‘Kleenex’, toilet paper, etc.
Aluminum cans become new aluminium cans.
#1 plastic like pop bottles and clam shell food containers become fibres for carpets and clothing, making them stronger.
Milk jugs (#2 plastic) become new #2 plastic and is also used for car parts.
Tin is smelted to become new tin, or to make car parts.
Other plastics are recycled into new plastic like the tote I purchased.
Most of the recycling is done in mills in the Midwest or southern United States and Eastern Canada.
You can support recycling by purchasing things made from recycled materials. Check the labels of containers and paper products for information about recycled content.
Did you know the recycling symbol is called a Mobius loop? It is used on plastics to indicate what chemicals have been mixed with the plastic during manufacturing. This is important information in the recycling process.
Recycling means we take less from the earth and need less space for landfills. It is worth it.