We are not to throw away those
things which can benefit our neighbor. Goods are called good because they can be
used for good: they are instruments for good, in the hands of those who use them
properly.
-- Clement of Alexandria
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Did You know?
• Americans throw away enough glass bottles and jars every two
weeks to fill the 1,350-foot towers.
• Most bottles and jars contain at least 25% recycled glass.
• Glass never wears out -- it can be recycled forever. We save over
a ton of resources for every ton of glass recycled -- 1,330 pounds of
sand, 433 pounds of soda ash, 433 pounds of limestone, and 151
pounds of feldspar.
• A ton of glass produced from raw materials creates 384 pounds of
mining waste. Using 50% recycled glass cuts it by about 75%. We
get 27.8 pounds of air pollution for every ton of new glass
produced.
• Recycling glass reduces that pollution by 14-20%.
• Recycling glass saves 25-32% of the energy used to make glass.
• Glass makes up about 8% of American municipal garbage.
• About 75% of America's glass is used for packaging. The average
American can save six pounds of glass in a month.
• As late as 1947, virtually 100% of all beverage bottles were
returnable.
• Every day, Americans recycle about 13 million glass jars and
bottles.
• Germany recycles almost 40% of its glass.
• States with bottle deposit laws have 35-40% less litter by volume.
