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- Each of us generates on average 4.4 pounds of waste per day per person.
- Recycling and composting recovered 24 percent of our municipal solid waste in 1994. That's around 49 million tons!
- Recycling all of your home's waste newsprint, cardboard, glass, and metal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 850 pounds a year.
- Recycling an aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours.
- It is estimated that 150 million computers will be discarded in the United States alone, enough to fill a hole one acre in area and 3.5 miles deep.
- Every Sunday, the United States wastes nearly 90% of the recyclable newspapers. This wastes about 500,000 trees.
- Every year, Americans throw out 24 million tons of grass clippings, leaves, and other yard waste.
- Each year, Americans throw away 1.6 million pens, 2 million razors and blades, and 200 million tires.
- One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year.
- Only one percent of the world's water supply is usable. 97 percent is contained in the oceans or seas and 2 percent is found frozen in the polar caps.
- It is possible to drink water that was present during the time of the dinosaurs.
- 40% of our municipal garbage is made up of kitchen and garden waste.
