OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” row_title=”Hero Image”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5658″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_raw_html css=””]JTNDZGl2JTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJjYXJvdXNlbC1jYXB0aW9uJTIwZC1tZC1ibG9jayUyMGQtc20tYmxvY2slMjIlM0UlMEElMjAlMjAlMjAlMjAlMjAlM0NoMSUzRVJlY3ljbGluZyUyMEZhY3RzJTNDJTJGaDElM0UlMEElM0MlMkZkaXYlM0U=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][breadcrumb-shortcode][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_title=”Introduction”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Recycling, the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products, is a key aspect of our state’s solid waste management strategy and benefits the environment in many ways. Recycling is not only significant because it keeps millions of tons of materials out of landfills and other disposal facilities, but also because it conserves natural resources, saves energy, and reduces emissions of water and air pollutants, including greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling is also an easy and important way for people to express their commitment to the environment.
Recycling also plays an important role in our state and national economy. Recycling not only creates jobs, but also generates billions of dollars annually in economic activity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes”][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”New Jersey Recycling Facts” tab_id=”nj-recycling-facts”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top”][vc_column_inner el_class=”bg-white p-2 rounded border mb-2″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5581″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]
New Jersey achieved a
54%
total recycling rate in
2022
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New Jersey achieved a
38%
municipal solid waste
recycling rate in 2022
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New Jersey recycled
5.2
million tons
of concrete, asphalt,
brick and block in 2022
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New Jersey recycled
283,000
tons of glass, aluminum
and steel containers in 2022
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New Jersey recycled
97,000
tons of plastic
containers in 2022
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New Jersey recycled
1.5 million
tons of paper and corrugated cardboard in 2022
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][vc_empty_space height=”24px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Environmental Benefits of Recycling” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23244f71″ google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:500%20bold%20regular%3A500%3Anormal” css=””][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”-1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Natural Resource Conservation” tab_id=”natural-resource-conservation”][vc_row_inner content_placement=”top”][vc_column_inner el_class=”bg-white p-2 rounded border mb-2″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5296″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1760532163810{padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]
Recycling one car conserves
2,500 pounds of iron ore,
1,400 pounds of coal, and
120 pounds of limestone.
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Source: Recycled Materials Association
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Recycling one ton of
aluminum conserves
4 metric tons
of bauxite ore.
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Source: Waste Advantage Magazine
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Recycling one ton of paper
saves trees,
7,000 gallons of water, and
3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
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Source: Waste Advantage Magazine
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Over a ton
of natural resources
are saved for every ton
of glass recycled.
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Source: Glass Packaging Institute
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Recycling plastic containers
reduces the need
for virgin petrochemical
feedstock.
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Source: Association of Plastic Recyclers
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Recycling reduces
the need for
new landfills
and incinerators.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Energy Conservation” tab_id=”energy-conservation”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner el_class=”bg-white p-2 rounded border mb-2″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5323″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1760533276610{border: 0px initial !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1760533500487{border: 0px initial !important;}”]
Producing recycled paper
requires about
60% of the energy
used to make paper
from virgin wood pulp.
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Recycling one ton of paper
saves enough energy to
power the average
American home for
6 months.
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Steel produced from
recycled steel requires
56% less energy
than steel produced
from iron ore.
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Source: Recycled Materials Association
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Producing new plastic
from recycled material
uses only two-thirds
of the energy required
to manufacture it
from raw materials.
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Aluminum produced from
recycled aluminum cans
requires up to 92%
less energy than
aluminum produced
by bauxite ore.
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Source: Recycled Materials Association
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Recycling one
glass container
saves enough
energy to light
a 100-watt bulb
for four hours.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Reductions in Emissions of Air and Water Pollutants” tab_id=”reductions-in-emissions”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner el_class=”bg-white p-2 rounded border mb-2″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5997″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1760533805572{border: 0px initial !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]
Recycling reduces the need for mining and drilling, which cause air and water pollution.
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Manufacturing with recycled
materials results in a net
reduction of ten major
categories of air pollutants,
and eight major categories
of water pollutants.
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In container glass production,
a relative 10% increase
in the use of recycled glass cullet
reduces particulates by 8%,
nitrogen oxide by 4%
and sulfur oxides by 10%
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Source: Glass Packaging Institute
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Greenhouse Gas Reductions” tab_id=”greenhouse-gas-reductions”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner el_class=”bg-white p-2 rounded border mb-2″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5308″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1760534335101{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;border: 0px initial !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]
Waste reduction and recycling lead to reductions in greenhouse gas generation.
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One ton of carbon dioxide generation is avoided for every 6 tons of glass recycled.
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Source: Glass Packaging Institute
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By using ferrous scrap rather than virgin materials in the production of iron and steel, CO2 emissions are reduced by
58%.
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Recycling one ton of paper reduces greenhouse gas emissions by
one metric ton
of carbon equivalent (MTCE).
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For every pound of recycled HDPE plastic flake used (in lieu of virgin petrochemical feedstock) greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by
71%.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”top”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”24px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Economic Benefits of Recycling” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23244f71″ google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:500%20bold%20regular%3A500%3Anormal” css=””][vc_tta_accordion color=”white” c_icon=”chevron” c_position=”right” active_section=”-1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”National Level” tab_id=”national-level”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner el_class=”bg-white p-2 rounded border mb-2″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5329″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]
Recycling and reuse activities in the United States account for 681,000 jobs.
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Recycling and reuse activities in the United States annually account for 37.8 billion in wages.
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Recycling and reuse activities in the United States annually account for $5.5 billion in tax revenue.
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Ferrous metals recycling is the top contributor to all economic indicators.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”State Level” tab_id=”state-level”][vc_row_inner content_placement=”top”][vc_column_inner el_class=”bg-white p-2 rounded border mb-2″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5302″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]
In New Jersey, the recycling and reuse industry employs approximately 27,000 people.
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The recycling industry adds almost $6 billion annually to New Jersey’s economy.
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New Jersey’s recycling infrastructure includes 23 intermediate processing facilities, over 100 NJDEP – approved recycling centers and dozens of industrial facilities including steel mills, foundries and paper mills.
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New Jersey’s recycling industry includes transporters, specialized processing facilities and manufacturers of various recycled products.
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Energy costs drop about 2-3% for every 10% recycled glass cullet used in the manufacturing process. (Recycled glass can be substituted for up to 95% of raw materials.)
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Source: Glass Packaging Institute
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Less energy is required when converting recycled HDPE to a virgin equivalent, whether flake or pellet and this results in significant energy cost savings for plastic product manufacturers.
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Source: Association of Plastic Recyclers
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Businesses and organizations can reduce their disposal costs and often generate revenue through a successful recycling program.
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The avoided cost of disposal will vary, but in NJ, with waste disposal fees as high as $130 per ton, the savings can be significant.
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Establishing a well-run program may enable businesses and other organizations to utilize smaller solid waste dumpsters and reduce the number of solid waste pick-ups made at their locale.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Enhanced Economic Value of Natural Resources” tab_id=”enhanced-economic-value-of-natural-resources”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner el_class=”bg-white p-2 rounded border mb-2″ width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5314″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1760534197252{border: 0px initial !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]
Recycling plays an important role in protecting our air, water and land, all of which are essential and valuable for natural resources. While it is difficult to quantify a monetary value for clean air, water and land, there is great economic value associated with them.
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