Recycling is Not a Myth
July 31, 2009 - by Molly Mann
I can't count the number of times someone has confronted me with the conspiracy theory that recycling is actually worse for the environment than simply tossing your trash. This assertion is always followed by a seemingly well-reasoned but actually false argument that excludes any objections from the listener. So I was relieved to find that Adrienne Esposito, the executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, has cleared the air on recycling in this week's "Green Street LI" section of Newsday.
It is absolutely more expensive to throw things away than to recycle them, and that's just counting the cost in dollars (not the impact on the environment). According to Ms. Esposito, it costs about $80 per ton to dispose of garbage and $40 per ton for recyclables. She also points out that recycling creates jobs (a major plus in this economy), and clears the record about the energy required to recycle containers. For those of you who've been led to believe otherwise, it takes 17 times more energy to make a new aluminum can than a recycled one.
So there you have it. There's no excuse for not recycling. It's the best way to help the planet by thinking globally and acting locally. And lucky for you, it's pretty easy. You just sort glass, plastic, and paper from your normal trash and put it out on the curb on days designated by your town. No excuses!
