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Recycling For Sustainability

Jill HolbertDeputy Director, Solid Waste Management

DepartmentCity of Albuquerquejholbert@cabq.gov

Office (505) 761-8342http://www.cabq.gov/solidwaste

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Solid Waste - National Challenge

“throw away society”US = 7% of world pop.US consumes 50% of world’s resourcesUS generates 37% of world’s trash

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2006 US MSW Composition – 251 Million Tons (before recycling)

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Solid Waste - Local Challenge

NM municipal solid waste = 2 million tonsAlbuquerque = 600,000 tons per year

or 1,655 tons per day

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Did you know?

"We don't have a waste problem, we have a resource opportunity."

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Benefits of Recycling• Reduces disposal costs • Represents GREEN practices

ALSO…• Increases jobs• Reduces GHG emissions• Saves energy• Saves resources

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Recycling Increases Jobs

Job Creation: Reuse & Recycling vs. Disposal

Type of Operation Jobs per 10,000 TPYComputer Reuse 296Textile Reclamation 85Misc. Durables Reuse 62Wooden Pallet Repair 28Paper Mills 18Glass Product Manufacturers 26Plastic Product Manufacturers 93Conventional Materials Recovery Facilities 10Composting 4

Landfill 1

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Reduces Emissions

US recycling = GHG equivalent to removing over 25 million cars from the road per year

New Mexico recycling = GHG equivalent to removing 115,789 cars from the road per year

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Energy Savings by Material

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51 4420 17 16 12 10 3

0

50

100

150

200

250

Alumin

umCar

pet

Plastic

Con

taine

rs

Compu

ters

Steel

Cans

Newsp

aper

Cardb

oard

Phone

Boo

ks

Office

Pap

er

Glass

Energy Savings Per Ton Recycled in Million BTU

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Recycling Saves Resources

According to Weyerhaeuser's Environmental Savings, recycling one ton of paper saves:

• 17 trees • 6,953 gallons of water • 462.57 gallons of oil • 586.5 pounds of air pollution • 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space • 4,077.45 KWhr of energy

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• Future: “Recycling Could Replace Mining for Future: “Recycling Could Replace Mining for US Iron Supply”US Iron Supply”

• 1900-2004, 3.2 billion metric tons in use1900-2004, 3.2 billion metric tons in use• Metal in use = metal still in groundMetal in use = metal still in ground• Demolition of buildings & infrastructure, carsDemolition of buildings & infrastructure, cars• US iron ore declining in qualityUS iron ore declining in quality• Recycling eliminates 75% Recycling eliminates 75%

of energy req’dof energy req’d

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Recycling as a Recycling as a Resource--SteelResource--Steel

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And finally, remember to….

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