How Does Plastic Recycling Help the Environment?

Americans use a great deal of plastic items in their everyday lives, especially water containers and shopping bags. Since plastics are made from petroleum products and do not readily decompose, their uncontrolled disposal represents a serious biohazard to the environment. Recycling is currently the primary method of dealing with this problem.

• Despite having one of the world's largest supplies of clean water, Americans consume far more bottled water than any other nation. Millions of plastic bottles are devoted to this industry each year resulting in tons of waste that most often ends up in landfills across the nation. Recycling helps to reduce the amount of land that must be set aside for this purpose.


• Large amounts of energy are expended in the production of plastic bottles and bags. Energy is already at a premium in this country and recycling these products increases the supply available for more endeavors that are beneficial and less harmful to the environment.


• Since plastic products are petroleum based, burning them results in additional toxic emissions detrimental to air quality. Recycling these items eliminates the need for burning them.


• Many manufactured items that had required the use of wood are now made with recycled plastic. Some of these include park benches, railroad ties and simulated lumber. Not only does this practice reduce the loss of trees when initially used, but not being subject to decay, they last for a much longer period.


• Recycling plastic items prevents them from being disposed of in the oceans and other waterways where they kill thousands of fish and animals every year.