ABSTRACT
The phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” has been associated with environmental concerns for a long time. The EPA has added the term rebuy, meaning “buy recycled products,” as there are now many fine landscape products made from recycled tires, plastics, twine, glass, and many other items that could otherwise clog up the waste stream and end up occupying space in landfills. The benefits of recycling are that it:
• Protects and expands US manufacturing jobs and increases US competitiveness • Reduces the need for landfilling and incineration • Prevents pollution caused by the manufacture of products from virgin materials • Saves energy • Decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global cli-
mate change • Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals • Helps sustain the environment for future generations
Table 15.1. shows the kinds of materials that have been recovered from the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream.
