Plastic bottles have contributed to a rise in municipal solid trash in the United States. According to the American Chemistry Council, 2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away every hour. The stats are also alarming for Canada and other developed countries. Although plastic bottles are convenient, the amount of trash they generate in landfills counter-acts their usefulness. Several landfills burn plastic bottles to reduce waste, which may produce harmful airborne chemicals or allergens. In contrast, recycling plastic bottles in bottle return depot and lowering greenhouse gas emissions also reduces pollution in water sources and air. This article will give you insights into how you can positively influence the environment by recycling your plastic bottles in the nearest bottle depot in Calgary or wherever you live.
The Environmental Gains From Plastic Bottle Recycling
Reusing plastic bottles decreases the use of petroleum and natural gas, reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by processing virgin materials is much smaller than the amount produced by plastic bottles recycling. However, recycling is much safer than dumping your plastic bottle carelessly. Here are a few benefits of collecting and recycling plastic bottles in bottle depots to save the environment:
- Waste reduction
When it comes to biodegradation of anything, including plastics, landfill space is at a minimum, and the conditions in landfills make it practically difficult for anything to break down. By reusing and recycling plastic bottles, we free up valuable storage space that we might utilize to dispose of other types of garbage. Recycled plastic reduces landfill area by 7.4 cubic yards per ton, according to earth 911’s calculations. Instead, you can prevent littering on roads and waterways by recycling plastic bottles in bottle depots.
- Reduced costs
You may save money and even earn some by recycling bottles at the bottle return depot. You can earn a good amount after handing in a few dozen bags of cans. In addition, waste management costs a lot of money to keep operations functioning smoothly. Compared to a landfill or incinerator, a bottle depot is more cost-effective since it does not need to dispose of waste regularly. Canadian businesses save money by supporting local recycling efforts. For instance, if more individuals pay attention to recycling, manufacturing companies would have to purchase fewer raw materials again. One of the main advantages of recycling plastic bottles is that it saves money for everyone.
- Decreased greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are produced throughout the plastics production process, and they are considered to have a substantial role in the planet’s warming trend. Recycling plastic bottles saves energy, fossil resources and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Recyclable plastic bottles in bottle depots may cut carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 340 pounds per year for the typical household, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- No pollution
Aside from reducing greenhouse gases, recycling plastic bottles in the nearest bottle depot helps reduce pollution in the air and water resources. There are also potentially dangerous substances in the plastic resin used to produce bottles, whereby, if they decompose in a landfill, they might leak or contaminate the soil or waterways.
- Reduced energy utilization
More energy is wasted when resources are used to produce plastic bottles than from recycling them. Recycling one pound of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a substance used in plastic bottle manufacturing, may save 12,000 BTUs of heat energy. Traditional power generation, which depends on burning fossil fuels, is eased some of its obligations since recycling uses up to two-thirds less energy than conventional production.
- Reusing plastic bottles is quite straightforward
The ease with which we may recycle plastic bottles in bottle depots is still another advantage. Nearly 80 percent of Canadians know about recycling programs, such as curbside collections or drop-off locations. Many institutions are now making it easy for pupils to recycle their water bottles.
Conclusion
Recycling plastic bottles at bottle depots may save power, lower greenhouse gas emissions and prevent water pollution. The utilization of recycled materials reduces the amount of solid trash created. Countries can reduce pollution generated by the mining and processing of virgin materials by recycling them. Reprocessing plastic bottles at a nearby bottle depot cut down on waste from the extraction and processing of the raw materials themselves. Moreover, you can earn some money by returning your used plastic bottles to nearby bottle return depots in Calgary or elsewhere.