Recycling
While recycling has become part of the daily routine for many people, the full importance of recycling is not always understood.
In general, people do understand that recycling helps to minimize the drain on the limited resources of our planet. One of the remarkable things about recycling is that the process helps to minimize the presence of waste materials in our communities.
Why Recycle
When items such as glass, paper, and plastics are being reused to create new products, they do not end up taking up space in a landfill.
While many people realize that recycling is good for the environment in terms of easing the demand on our limited resources, they may not realize that choosing to reuse and recycle items also makes it possible to significantly cut the cost of producing products. Thus the importance of recycling not only extends to preserving raw materials, but also to reducing the energy needed to manufacture various goods.
Where Do My Recyclables Go?
Recycling is a locality-based system in Virginia, meaning that recycling programs are managed by the jurisdiction you live in, and the materials collected may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
The most commonly collected items in these programs include paper, metal, plastic, and glass.
Other materials that may be collected include waste tires, electronics, used oil, carpet, appliances, and textiles.
These materials, once collected, are transported to a processor who then bales, shreds or otherwise prepares the material for shipping to the end use market such as paper mills, glass manufacturers, and steel and aluminum manufacturers.
