Why Recycling Matters

Republic employee driving a truck

It may be hard to believe, but some people think recycling doesn’t make much of a difference in the big picture. But nothing could be further from the truth! There are so many reasons recycling matters.

First of all, the more we recycle, the more we save. It’s simple conservation, and it makes our resources last longer and go farther. This not only helps us today, but of course, it’s also looking out for future generations. Recycling is efficient and practical, and it gives us maximum use of the resources our planet provides us, without having to extract fresh material from the Earth every time we want to make something.

Recycling also saves energy. Did you know, for example, that when manufacturers use recycled materials to make products, they use significantly less energy than when they use raw materials? Likewise, producing recyclable materials ready for manufacturing requires far less energy than extracting, refining, transporting and processing raw materials through mining and forestry.

At Republic Services, we work for Earth.™ That means we’re committed to preserving our natural resources, keeping our environment clean, and helping the people we serve live in safe and healthy communities.

Another benefit we don’t want to overlook is how much recycling helps protect the environment. When we extract raw materials from the Earth through mining, quarrying and logging, and when we refine and process them through industrial factories, we create a lot of air and water pollution. Those are just the facts. Recycling, by comparison, produces very little CO2, carbon byproducts, or other greenhouse gases.

Of course, recycling also helps reduce landfills. Instead of loading up the Earth with waste, junk and garbage, recycling helps keep the environment clean, safe and healthy. That is what we’re committed to doing here at Republic Services. After all, we work for Earth.