Recycling Center Near Me

In the modern world, recycling is of the utmost importance. Not only is it a great way to achieve a smaller carbon footprint, but it helps to eliminate waste output and allows businesses to reuse items rather than producing new. This can keep costs down for you while helping the environment to thrive.

Are you interested in finding a recycling center in your area? Simply browse recycling center near me on the map below and find a list of recycling centers near your location. Need a bit more information on recycling? Read on for intriguing facts and trivia on recycling!

Recycling Center Near Me – Find it on the Map

Recycling Center Near Me – Recycling Center Trivia

How far back does recycling go?

If you’re searching recycling center near me, you may be one of millions of Americans who believe that recycling is a fairly modern invention. Due to the ups and downs in the popularity of recycling, many have been lead to believe that the history of recycling is fairly recent. Historians disagree, citing that the first ever recorded reuse of waste paper goes all the way back to 1031 in Japan. This is when waste paper was first reimagined to suit other needs rather than spending eternity decomposing. The first recycled paper manufacturing process was introduced in 1690, when the Rittenhouse Mill near Philadelphia, PA began to make paper from fibers derived from recycled cotton and linen rags. As America grew and declared its independence from Britain, rebels turned to recycling as a way to garner materials used to fight in the Revolutionary War. That’s some revolutionary recycling right there!

Recycling centers are typically conveniently located in most communities.

When did materials aside from paper first get recycled?

As mentioned above, paper recycling has roots all the way back in 1031; however, the recycling of other good is far more recent. It wasn’t until 1865 that historians have found recorded evidence of the recycling of unwanted goods. It is believed that during this time, the Salvation Army began collecting, sorting, and recycling unwanted goods in London. The Household Salvage Brigade employed hundreds of unskilled laborers to recover discarded materials and put it to new use. This soon migrated to the United States, where recycling became more common in the late 1890’s.

Where was the first material recovery facility located?

Consider this while searching recycling center near me. The very first material recovery facility where trash was sorted, picked and separated into various grades of paper, metals, and carpet was first introduced in New York City in 1897. At this time, burlap bags, rubber, twine, and even horse hair was sorted for recycling and reuse. Some call this facility the very first recycling center of its time.

Recycling Center Near Me – Recycling Center Facts

Trash By The Numbers

According to recent statistics, the average person typically generates around 4 pounds of trash everyday and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year. Americans are credited with making more than 200 million tons of garbage annually, that’s more than enough to fill a large stadium from the top to the bottom nearly twice a day. By searching recycling center near me, you’re not only curbing the amount of trash put into landfills, you’re helping to reduce the amount of disposable trash produced by Americans each and every year. While it may not seem important, every step made towards green living is a step towards a better planet.

The American Waste Stream

Here’s a startling figure: according to the Environmental Protection agency, 75% of the American Waste Stream is recyclable but only about 31% of that waste is actually recycled. Some statistics show that recycling just one aluminum can will save enough energy to listen to a full album on your iPhone. Recycling 100 cans could potentially light up a bedroom for two whole weeks. According to the Container Recycling Institute, 36 billion aluminum cans were put into landfills in 2015. That’s a value of more than $600 million. In searching recycling center near me, you’re being a solution rather than a problem. You’re not only setting an example for those around you, you’re helping to make the earth a better and brighter place to live.

Recycling Glass

As stated above, 75% of all waste produced by Americans is recyclable. From cans and paper to clothing, there are ways to recycle just about everything. Recycling glass is often overlooked despite the reusability of glass. A glass container can actually go from the recycling bin to a store shelf in as little as 30 days. That’s some fast turn around! While searching recycling center near me, consider the reusability of items you may often throw away. Everything from cereal and tissue boxes to shampoo bottles can be recycled into something new. It may be easier to toss and forget, but that’s not efficient for the planet or your pocketbook.