Oklahoma Recycling Association

Amazing Recycling Facts

Each of us generates on average 4.4 pounds of waste per day per person.
Recycling and composting recovered 24 percent of our municipal solid waste in 1994. That's around 49 million tons!
Recycling all of your home's waste newsprint, cardboard, glass, and metal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 850 pounds a year.
Recycling an aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours.
It is estimated that 150 million computers will be discarded in the United States alone, enough to fill a hole one acre in area and 3.5 miles deep.
Every Sunday, the United States wastes nearly 90% of the recyclable newspapers. This wastes about 500,000 trees.
Every year, Americans throw out 24 million tons of grass clippings, leaves, and other yard waste.
Each year, Americans throw away 1.6 million pens, 2 million razors and blades, and 200 million tires.
One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year.
Only one percent of the world's water supply is usable. 97 percent is contained in the oceans or seas and 2 percent is found frozen in the polar caps.
It is possible to drink water that was present during the time of the dinosaurs.
40% of our municipal garbage is made up of kitchen and garden waste.