More Good Reasons to Recycle

Economic Benefits of Recycling
Several studies have shown that recycling related businesses have substantial economic development benefits.
A study of 10 states in the Northeast region found that more than 100,000 people are employed in firms that process recyclables or use them in manufacturing. The study also estimates that more than $7.2 billion in value is added to recyclables in the Northeast through processing and manufacturing.

A similar study of 13 states and territories in the Southeast found that nearly 140,000 people are employed by firms that process recyclables or use them in manufacturing. The value added to recyclables for that region was estimated at $18.5 billion.

North Carolina found in a 1995 study that businesses which collect, process and manufacture recyclables have nearly $1 billion in total estimated sales and 9,000 employees - that's in North Carolina alone.

Environmental Benefits of Recycling
Recycling saves energy, natural resources, and landfill space. In most cases, making products from recycled materials also creates less air pollution and water pollution than making products from virgin materials.

"Buy Recycled" Myths
Here are four common myths and misconceptions about buying recycled:

Recycled products are hard to find.

This used to be true, but no longer. From the neighborhood grocery store to national retailers, stores sell thousands of products made from or packaged in recycled content material.

Recycled paper isn't as good as non recycled paper.

Recycled content papers now share the same printing and performance characteristics as their virgin equivalent. Recycled papers no longer look different. You can now find recycled content papers with the same whiteness and brightness as virgin papers. They also offer the same level of runnability and high quality imaging on copiers, and laser and ink jet printers.

Recycled products cost more.

This used to be the case for some materials, but things have changed. Many recycled products are priced competitively with their non recycled counterparts. In fact, some may be less expensive!
Recycled products are inferior in quality.

This is simply not true. Recycled products have the same quality, reliability, and dependability. A 1996 survey by the Buy Recycled Business Alliance asked hundreds of corporate purchasing agents about their satisfaction with recycled content products. The survey results showed that 97% of respondents were pleased with the performance of recycled content products.