Recycling

What materials can be recycled by the residents?

Newspapers	Aluminum Cans	Steel Cans
Corrugated Boxes	Plastic Bottles	Plastic Containers
Books/Loose Paper	Plastic Packaging	Paper Board Egg Cartons
Used Motor Oil*	Scrap Tires*	White Goods* (large appliances)

Items such as used motor oil, scrap tires, computer/electronics and white goods should be collected at one or more sites convenient to the public.Arrangements have to be made with recycling companies for their disposal.

Many materials like plastic bottles and aluminum cans are 100% percent recyclable, but unless they get collected and recycled, they end up contributing to the increasing global carbon foot print. According to EPA data from 2008, the top carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters were China, the United States, the European Union, India, the Russian Federation, Japan, and Canada. There are over 3,000 active landfills in the United States and over 10,000 old municipal landfills.

Recycling reduces the amount of materials that end up in our waste stream, decreases the amount of waste sent to landfills or getting incinerated and helps the environment by reducing the need for new landfills.

Recycling saves our precious resources from being used up. Recycling newspapers, cardboard and junk mail can save trees from being cut down. The processing and manufacturing of recyclables also allows companies to reduce their reliance on virgin materials. Virgin materials are usually mined and processed, which requires a significant amount of energy and contributes to pollution of the environment. According to the EPA, producing new plastic from recycled material uses only two-thirds of the energy required to manufacture it from raw materials.

Recovered materials are a cost effective solution that helps close the loop in the recycling process. They reduce carbon emissions and save energy, water and other natural resources in abundance.

When a community collectively reduces its impact on the environment, it is setting an example for other communities on a national or even global level. We at Oakwood should strive to set such an example.