You may not think about it, but you produce about 1,600 pounds of garbage each year. Considering the number of people in the world, the garbage quickly adds up.
The problem? It has to go somewhere.
Most garbage winds up in landfills, but much of it can be recycled. Paper accounts for 50% of all business waste and 33% of total municipal waste.
Why is recycling important? You’ve heard it countless times before. Recycling is everyone’s responsibility.
If you own a business, you may find yourself throwing away mountains of paper. Read on as we explore the facts and discover why recycling is important.
Using Recycled Materials Saves Energy
Consider the process of manufacturing goods and materials. Using raw materials sourced from recycled products uses far less energy than manufacturing virgin materials.
Think about the extraction process. Mining for metals, logging, and more requires tons of energy.
Energy savings will depend on the specific material being recycled. For example, energy savings from recycling lead are around 75%.
One economist estimates that recycling paper could save 3,000 kilowatt hours per ton.
These energy savings have a huge impact on the global effort overall. In reducing our energy consumption, we decrease our output of pollutants into the atmosphere.
Because You Love to Breathe
Perhaps the most important yet least compelling reason you should recycle is for your own health. Trees are one of the most vital producers of oxygen on the planet.
Trees, shrubs, and grasses produce nearly half of the world’s oxygen. The other half is largely produced by phytoplankton in the ocean.
So why does this matter? Each year, humans cut down more than 15 billion trees. Using recycled paper would reduce this number and leave more trees to grow across the globe.
This isn’t some tree-hugging agenda. The very balance of the global ecosystem relies on forest growth.
Cutting into the tree population too much could lead to disaster in the near future. That is, we could suffocate ourselves.
It Makes Financial Sense
Whether you are just starting a business or have been established for years, your environmental impact may not be the first thing on your mind. The very thought may make you worry a little bit.
As a business owner, you can get certain benefits for recycling. State and federal agencies offer various programs for businesses that promote greener practices.
Some states offer a fixed amount of money for equipment. Others offer a percentage of the value, ranging from 10% to 50%.
That means you don’t have to worry too much about the cost of starting a recycling program. The government wants businesses to start recycling more.
This is why it has created programs to help businesses recycle. Once you have the infrastructure in place, create a community focused on recycling.
Promote a Greener Image
No matter the type of business you operate, you want to maintain a good reputation. In the modern world, consumers value businesses that are mindful of the environment.
Taking steps toward a greener business will win over your target customers. Many consumers will go out of their way to find out how eco-friendly a business truly is.
If you create a culture of recycling within your business, you increase your chances with this demographic.
This goes beyond recycling. If you offer a product, you should make sure the product is eco-friendly.
Always be aware of how your business operations impact the environment.
Of course, we cannot completely stop the production of all things. We can only minimize our footprint.
You Contribute to Growing the Job Market
When you recycle paper, metals, plastics, and more, think about the logistics of the process. Recycling requires manpower.
Times are changing, and many people are facing difficulty finding jobs. The contents of most recycling bins are further segregated once they reach their destination.
The process is much more labor-intensive than general waste management. The recycling industry creates jobs from the skilled to semi-skilled levels.
This is good news for all involved.
Additionally, research is put into how we can effectively use recycled materials. This research is posed to answer questions about how we can create building materials, renewable energy, and more. With trash!
Basic capitalist theory proves that growth leads to more jobs, which leads to more growth. Essentially, in order to grow the economy, we must be able to create more jobs.
You also contribute to the research that goes into finding more sustainable ways to live.
If you find yourself wondering why recycling is important, remember that creating jobs is in everyone’s best interest.
The Health of Your Employees
No business can operate without the contribution of its employees to the end goal. For that reason, consider the health of your workers.
This goes beyond providing insurance. When you recycle, you create a culture focused on the overall health of society.
Promote a healthy space for your employees to work in, whether they are in the office or out. Healthy air is good for the body and mind.
It’s all our responsibility to contribute to the global effort to reduce global climate change. Every little step counts toward the finish line.
At the end of the day, healthy employees contribute to healthy business growth.
Why Is Recycling Important? Because You Care
Recycling is on everyone’s mind as we move forward into the future. We find ourselves amid a crisis that some choose to ignore.
Of course, we cannot change people’s minds. We can only do our part to build a better world.
Why is recycling important? Recycling is one of the easiest ways to contribute to the effort.
If you operate a business, you probably throw away paper that could easily be recycled into more paper or other products.
You can find out more here about building a more sustainable world. Choose to recycle.
