Recycling

Help Support our Economy & Our Environment

Help the Economy!

8,700 jobs in Minnesota are in recycling. For every job collecting recyclables, there are 26 jobs in processing the materials and manufacturing them into new products. Recycling creates four jobs for every one job created in the waste management and disposal industries. Thousands of U.S. companies have saved millions of dollars through their voluntary recycling programs. They wouldn't recycle if it didn't make sense.

Fight for Jobs!

Five times as many people are employed in recycling than in waste disposal.

Stop Climate Change!

Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Save Our Lakes!

Recycling reduces air and water pollution.

Save Electricity!

In 2003, recycling in Minnesota saved enough electricity to power 30% of the state's households. It takes 20 times the energy to make an aluminum can from mined materials as it does to make one from a recycled can.

Save the Land!

Each person in Minnesota creates about 2,000 pounds of garbage every year. A lot of this still goes into landfills. The more materials you recycle, the less land we will need to bury our trash.

Save Our Trees!

The average American saves about 3 trees and over 1,000 gallons of water each year by recycling paper. You can save even more trees by recycling your junk mail and office paper. Every ton of newsprint or mixed paper recycled saves the equivalent of cutting down 24 trees to make paper. Recycling prevents habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion associated with logging and mining. Americans consume more natural resources per person than any other country in the world.

Away from Home?

 Look for recycling. Before you throw away that bottle, can, or junk mail, check for a recycling bin. Ask for recycling. If you don't see recycling, talk with managers of local stores and events.

Did You Know?

• Did you know that you can recycle glass and aluminum at the Mall of America? The Mall also collects food scraps from restaurants and sends it to a farm as pig feed!
• WE Fest, the country music festival in Detroit Lakes, recycles aluminum cans from festival goers. Vendors also recycle glass and cardboard.
• The Moon Dance Jam Festival in Walker recycles cans and bottles in its events and camping areas. Steel and cardboard are also recycled.
• The Anoka County Fair recycles beverage containers, paper and cardboard.

More Information

For more information, contact the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency via their website.