Learn More: Recycling 101
Redefining recycling for a better tomorrow starts with people and a commitment to building a sustainable future. That’s what takes us beyond the steel, plastic, aluminum, copper and cardboard we collect. These materials touch every moment of our lives. And when they’re no longer useful, BlueScope Recycling is here to give them a new start; keeping them out of landfills, reducing the need to source raw materials, minimizing pollution and creating jobs across collection, sorting and processing.
The mural pictured is located at our Mansfield, Ohio plant and was created by local artist Allison Pence.
Recycling is important
Recycling has not kept pace with the growing waste stream. While it’s clear recycling is important for sustainability reasons – it reduces waste in our landfills and conserves natural resources; it prevents and reduces pollution and the need to source raw materials – the good news is, there are real economic benefits as well. Recycling creates jobs and tax revenue. In fact, a recent Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report found that in a single year, recycling and reuse activities in the U.S. accounted for more than 750,000 jobs, $36 billion in wages and nearly $7 billion in tax revenues, which equates to 1.57 jobs, $76,000 in wages and $14,101 in tax revenue for every thousand tons of material recycled.
Quick facts on recycling
- In our landfills, cans will stick around for a while. Tin will take about 50 years and aluminum can take as much as 500 years to decompose.
- Producing new steel from recycled content reduces CO2 emissions by as much as 58% and requires about 60% less energy.
- Recycling one car saves more than 2500 pounds of iron ore, 1400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone. (We recycle about 700,000 vehicles each year.)
- On average, we divert about 700,000 tons of waste from the landfill annually.
- Nonferrous metals do not degrade or lose their chemical properties during recycling, so we’re enabling these metals to be reused an infinite number of times.
Recycling Myths
If an item has recycling arrows on it, it can be recycled.
This is not necessarily true. Just because an item has the recycling arrows on it doesn’t mean it will be accepted at all recyclers. If there is a number with the symbol, this indicates special handling needs. For instance the arrows with a 3, 6, or 7 are harder to recycle. Check local recycling rules on the web to be sure.
Materials need to be spotless to be recycled.
Materials should be clean and dry, but not spotless. Plastic container and cans should be clean, dry and free of most food waste, but they’re not new.
