Benefits of Recycling

• When we bury or burn recyclable goods, we are throwing away valuable resources that can be used to make other products
• Recycling uses less energy, water and raw materials and creates less air and water pollution than the original production processes
• Less rubbish means existing landfills last longer, which saves us money. Landfills are expensive to operate and they are not good for the environment
• It creates employment - people have to sort, transport and re-manufacture the goods
• Natural resources are preserved - for example, every tonne of recycled paper saves about 17 trees
• It creates wealth - most used steel, aluminium, paper and plastic is sold primarily into the New Zealand Market, while some is sold overseas earning valuable New Zealand  export dollars

Did you know...?

• In New Zealand, the average person creates about 1000kg of waste each year - 45kg of plastic, 107 bottles, 160 cans and the equivalent of two trees worth of paper
• In New Zealand we use over 1,000,000 (million) aluminium cans per week and only 50% are recycled.
• Plastic will still be present in the landfill in 1000 years
• 25 plastic drink bottles can be used to make a fleece jacket

What happens to all the stuff?

• Used paper and cardboard can become corrugated cardboard, egg cartons, apple trays, recycled envelopes and paper, toilet and tissue paper, serviettes and paper towels
• Glass can be crushed and heated to make new glass products. It is also used for swimming pool filters, sandblasting, paving and texture coating
• Steel cans are used to make sheet steel and reinforcing rods
• Aluminium can be melted down and used to make new cans, boats, ladders, joinery and car parts
• Empty plastic bottles are turned into raincoats, umbrellas, spouting, fleece jackets and new bottles