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Environmental Benefits of Recycling |
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The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change states "Recycling is making a substantial contribution to the improvement of our environment by:
The spilt bin recycling system that is used in Tweed Shire helps to protect the our local environment in 5 ways:
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Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
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Greenhouse gases are generated in the degradation (rotting) of organic materials such as paper in landfill. The rotting (decomposition) of organic materials generates methane, a very potent greenhouse gas that is contributing to the effects of the enhanced greenhouse effect (Global Warming). Based on the amount of recyclables recovered in 2007/2008, the Tweed Shire saved enough paper and cardboard from landfill to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas production by the same amount as permanently removing 908 cars from our local streets. In the Tweed this was achieved by a spilt bin system, further reducing the number of trucks on the road, saving even more greenhouse gases. |
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Reducing the Amount of
Landfill Required |
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Every wheelie bin with recyclable materials presented in the rear section of the bin saves landfill space. Landfills are expensive to build and maintain, so saving space in landfills is saving money for the whole community. In 2007/2008, Tweed Shire recycled 7,532 tonnes of material in the spilt bins. This saved more space than would be in 377 backyard swimming pools! |
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Reducing the Amount of Primary Raw Resources |
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Every thing we buy, use and throw away is made from raw resources. Trees, make paper and cardboard, sand and lime make glass, ore is used to make metal and oil and gas are used to make plastic. Recycling allows manufacturer's to substitute recycled resources for raw virgin resources. |
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Reduce the Amount of Energy used in Manufacture
of Resources |
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Many studies have shown that the amount of energy used to recycle resources is less than that required to mine and convert raw resources to products. With materials such as aluminium cans, the difference is as much as 20 times (the energy used to make one can from bauxite can make 20 cans from recycled materials). Based on the amount of material recycled in 2007/2008, Tweed residents saved enough energy by simply recycling through the back of the spilt bin to power about 581 average homes. |
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Reduce the Amount of other Resources Used in the
Production of Materials |
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In addition to the amount of raw resources used to make materials, there is a range of secondary resources used as well. For example, almost every product made uses significant amounts of water in cleaning and cooling throughout the manufacturing process. In metal manufacture, chemicals are used to help convert the ore into the pure metals that can be melted and molded and similarly in glass manufacture. Based on the amount of materials recycled in 2007/2008, the Tweed Shire has contributed to significant water savings from manufacturing processes by recycling household items. It is estimated that the savings for water are greater than the amount of water it would take to fill 50 Olympic sized swimming pools.
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Saving Calculations All the saving calculations quoted on this page have been generated by the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change "Environmental Benefits of Recycling Calculator" 2008. |
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