Benefits of recycling
Recycling is something that every individual can do to help the environment every day, and it is easier to do than it has ever been.
- It saves on virgin resources: when we recycle, used materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources through mining and forestry.
- It uses less energy to produce: using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials – even when comparing all associated costs such as transport.
Did you know? Producing steel from recycling material saves 75% of the energy needed to produce steel from virgin material. - It cuts down on CO2 emissions: as recycling saves energy it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change. Current UK recycling is estimated to save more than 18 million tonnes of CO2 a year – the equivalent to taking 5 million cars off the road.
Did you know ? Recycling aluminium produces only 5% of the CO2 emissions that are produced by making aluminium from virgin resources. - It reduces landfill: recycling reduces the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites. There are over 1,500 landfill sites in the UK. Landfill sites produce harmful methane; effectively remove reusable resources from circulation; contaminate the land, water and air, and are rapidly filling up.
Did you know? Landfill sites produce around one quarter of the UK's emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than CO2.
Contact
Mollie Miller, Assistant Campus Manager
Email: recycling@uel.ac.uk
Tel: 020 8223 3330 / 2107
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