WHY RECYCLE?

SAVES LANDFILL SPACE - Landfills are obsolete,
expensive, and space for landfills is running out

SAVES ENERGY – Less non-renewable energy is used to
make products from recyclables than from virgin material

SAVES MONEY – Recycling is less expensive than landfill
disposal

SAVES THE ENVIRONMENT - Recycling reduces
highway litter, air/water pollution, and our carbon footprint

BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITIES - Recycling creates
more jobs than landfill disposal, promotes social harmony, helps
all businesses, and benefits tourism
WHAT YOU CAN DO

BUY PRODUCTS MADE FROM
RECYCLED MATERIALS – It is very important
that recycled paper include “post-consumer” content. Postconsumer waste is genuinely recycled material that is collected
worldwide from consumers. Most other “recycled” material is
“pre-consumer” and is simply virgin material (trimmings, etc.)
that is normally used at the point of production anyway, and is
not really recycled in the normal sense.

If all businesses and individuals bought only paper made from
post-consumer waste, 1/3 fewer felled trees would be needed.
WHAT YOU CAN DO

RECYCLE ALL MATERIAL THAT CAN
BE RECYCLED – Especially important materials to
recycle are: 1) Aluminum cans (because of the huge energy
savings); and 2) Cardboard and paper (because they account
for 35% of municipal solid waste). Many other materials are
recyclable, and the list is constantly growing – regularly check
to see what you can recycle.

In advanced recycling economies, such as Germany, final
waste destined for landfills has been reduced to less than 4% of
total waste. In the Bitterroot, more than 90% of our waste ends
up in landfills.
WHAT YOU CAN DO

REDUCE YOUR USE OF MATERIAL AND
ENERGY WHEREVER POSSIBLE – Reduction in
unnecessary consumption is even better than recycling. Instead of
bottled water, install a water filter. Instead of buying fast food (which
uses vast quantities of throwaway materials such as paper, styrofoam,
etc.), eat at home or at a restaurant with “green” practices. Instead of
plastic bags at the supermarket, bring cloth bags from home – they
save the environment and are way easier to carry!

Remember to compost your kitchen and yard waste if you have a
compost bin – this saves the environment and gives you free fertilizer
for your garden!
THE SIMPLE REALITY
 Human
Generated Waste
 Can Ruin our Valley
 And our Planet
CONSIDER THIS

If you recycle a single aluminum can, the
manufacturing energy saved can run
your television set for three hours
WHAT YOU CAN DO


SUPPORT LOCAL RECYCLING –
Ravalli
County Recycling (RCR) is a non-profit group serving the
Bitterroot Valley. It is run largely by volunteers. Your financial
support can make an enormous difference. Become a member
and also consider a donation of your time to assist in the
recycling effort. Collect recyclables and bring them on drop-off
day, or hire a curbside pick-up service to collect them.
Encourage all levels of government to support recycling.
In advanced recycling economies, such as Germany, recycling
is supported through taxation on the manufacture of products.
In Montana, recycling depends largely on volunteer support, the
sale of recyclables, and private donations.