General Facts

1. Aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable with nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced still in use today.

2. In as few as 60 days, the aluminum can that contains your favorite beverage may have been manufactured, filled, sold, recycled, and remanufactured.

3. Over the past 30 years, glass bottles have been reduced in weight by approximately 40% saving energy in shipping.

4. Glass bottles are 100% recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely.

5. PET bottles should be recycled with their caps on – both the bottle and cap material can be used in recycled products again and again.

6. Recycle only glass containers used for food and beverages; other types of glass, such as windows, ovenware, Pyrex, crystal, etc. are manufactured through a different process and are not recyclable.

7. The resin code in the recycling chasing arrows on plastic packaging does NOT mean it is recyclable – check with your local recycling program to know what plastic materials are recoverable and recyclable in their program.

Economic Facts

1. The cost to recycle a can is less than the cost to manufacture a new can.

2. Recycling aluminum cans supports the economic viability of your community’s recycling program.

3. Recycled glass is part of the recipe for making new glass, and the more that is used, the greater the decrease in energy used in the furnace.

4. PET recycling supports a diverse array of end markets – including new PET bottles, clamshell containers, carpet, and textiles.

5. Nationwide, over 530,000 jobs are attributed to the recycling industry. Landfilling 1,000 tons of waste creates 1 job, while recycling 1,000 tons of materials creates 9 jobs.

6. Over a third of all plastic beverage containers recycled in North America are recycled in Georgia; primarily by the carpet manufacturing industry in the state.

7. Recycling plastic bottles creates new jobs – if each household in South Carolina recycled two additional plastic bottles every week, an estimated 300 jobs would be created in the state.

8. For every 200,000 PET bottles recycled each year, 30 jobs are created, supported or sustained.

Energy and Emissions Savings

1. Making beverage cans from recycled aluminum cuts air pollution by about 95%.

2. Tossing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as pouring out approximately 15% of that can’s volume in gasoline.

3. PET bottles offer major weight savings and durability – reducing both shipping emissions and costs as well as durability and recyclability for consumers.

4. Twenty recycled aluminum cans can be manufactured with the energy needed to produce just one can from virgin ore.

5. Recycling aluminum saves more than 90% of the energy required to produce new aluminum products versus producing new metal from virgin ore.

6. Recycling 40 aluminum cans provides the energy saving equivalent of one gallon of gasoline.

7. Recycled glass reduces emissions and consumption of raw materials, extends the life of glass manufacturing equipment, such as furnaces, and saves energy.

8. Over one ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled.

9. Using recycled PET in place of virgin PET reduces energy demand by 75% and greenhouse gas emissions by 60%.

Recycling programs vary from community to community. Always check with your local recycling provider to learn what materials can be accepted for recycling.

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