Recycling common materials like aluminum, glass, paper and plastic helps reduce landfill space, conserve national resources, and lower the pollution created and energy consumed by manufacturing new products. Without recycling, the typical American throws away 90,000 pounds of trash per year. Americans only recycle 28 percent of their trash, when they could be recycling a full 80 percent of what they use, according to DoSomething.org.
Aluminum Items
The most recycled item in the United States is the aluminum can, which can produce enough energy to run a television or a computer for two to three hours. However, the website Recycling Revolution identifies other types of recyclable aluminum that are overlooked, including siding, gutters, car components, storm window frames and lawn furniture. Even Hershey's Kiss wrappers, which produce 133 square miles of aluminum foil a year, can be recycled.
Glass
There is no limit to the number of times glass can be recycled. Americans recycle enough glass bottles each year to build a tower to the moon and halfway back to earth again. However, Americans still throw away enough glass each month to fill a skyscraper.
Paper
Americans spend eight months of their lives opening junk mail, reports the Oberlin College Resource Conservation Team. This junk mail, along with all the other paper thrown away each year, could build a 12-foot high wall running across the country between New York City and Los Angeles. This averages out to one 100-foot tall Douglas fir tree per person.
Plastic
The amount of plastic wrapping made each year could shrink-wrap the state of Texas. Sadly, according to the website DoSomething.org, each year the plastic waste thrown into the oceans kill around a million sea creatures. Plastic can be recycled into products including carpets, tennis balls, playground equipment and clothing. In fact, only five recycled soda bottles can provide the insulation for a ski jacket.
Unusual Items
There are also uncommon items that can be recycled. According to Discover Magazine, every year the cell phones Americans throw away could be recycled into 80 million dollars worth of precious metals, including copper, gold and silver. Each pair of dentures thrown away contains $25 worth of these metals. Even more extreme, sterilized sheep manure is being recycled into air fresheners, and the speedboat Earthrace runs on a biofuel partially made from liposuctioned fat.
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