In the past few years, more and more people have become aware of the importance of recycling. Given the threat of climate change and permanent environmental damage, businesses and individuals are taking steps to recycle waste effectively. If you think about it, recycling has become quite easy with programs dedicated to collecting e-waste and environment-friendly products being widely available. Despite the information and awareness, there is still a lot that people still don’t know about recycling.

For example, the biggest stream of waste is electronic which experienced more than 21 percent growth in 2019 and is expected to reach double that figure by 2030. While corporations such as Apple and Amazon are running trade-in programs to recycle electronic waste, it is important for consumers to do their part too.

To make people more aware of recycling, here are the top 10 facts that you should know.

1. All E-Waste Can Be Recycled
   It is commonly believed that some electronic waste cannot be recycled and has to end up as landfills. This is not correct. You can recycle old computers or sell used laptops for cash when upgrading to a new one. At the end, your discarded gadgets can be disposed of safely and you do not have to throw them away. You can also refurbish your device and sell it to companies that deal with such products. Other than that, it is also a good idea to donate old or used laptops to schools or different organizations.
   
   
2. Recycling Can Lead To A Decrease In The Value Of Precious Metals
   This is actually one very interesting fact. Most electronic devices have metals such as gold, silver or aluminum and they can be used to make other products. Experts have estimated that there are a lot of valuable and precious materials in landfills. If they are recycled in large quantities, the price of raw materials could decrease.
   
   
3. Cardboard That Is Recycled Can Help Save Oil And Energy
   It may be surprising for you but there is a huge amount of cardboard that ends up as landfills. Recycling around one ton of cardboard can equal to saving 46 gallons of oil. Experts have also stated that this quantity can save energy as well. Just think about how much cardboard is being produced at any given time. Probably, a lot, and most of it may be thrown away. If recycled, it could end up saving a lot of oil and energy around the world.
   
   
4. Recycling Plastic Waste Is Easier Than Manufacturing It
   Most plastics are produced or manufactured from raw materials. If the industries began using recycled plastics, they could end up cutting their costs and even saving money. This is because it takes 88 percent less energy to recycle plastics than create it from the source materials.
   
   
5. Burning Waste Takes More Energy Than Recycling
   In some countries, burning waste, including electronics is a common practice. It can be very harmful or toxic for the environment as there are chemicals release which impact the atmosphere and may lead to health issues. Recycling plastic waste can help save more than twice the energy as compared to burning it.
   
   
6. An Average Individual Can Recycle Thousands Of Aluminum Cans
   You might not be familiar with this fact but it certainly is true. Aluminum waste is increasing with each year and is quite damaging for the environment and planet. It has been reported that an average person could recycle around 25000 aluminum cans throughout their life. Now, this is quite a huge number and can certainly reduce the waste across the globe. Just think about how aluminum cans will be recycled instead of ending in a dump!
   
   
7. Americans Only Recycle 30 percent Of Their Waste
   This is quite a low number if you think about it. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has stated that 75 percent of the materials which end up in waste within the United States can be recycled. However, only 30 percent is recycled and disposed of securely. Most of the electronics, plastics, foods and even clothes go to landfills.
   
   
8. Most Consumers Change Their Smartphones After Two Years
   Since technology is moving forward very fast and new models are being introduced every year, people want to keep up with the latest features. So they upgrade their smartphones frequently, with a lot of consumers changing them every two years. This means that there are millions of old devices being thrown away or ending up in landfills. These devices can lead to a bigger rise in e-waste than larger gadgets such as computers, laptops or even televisions.
   
   
9. People Can Take Old Devices To Electronics Stores For Recycling
   One of the biggest reasons why people don’t end up recycling their electronics waste is lack of awareness. Since there are so many recycling or trade-in programs, you can easily find one being run by an electronics store near your location. If not, you can even look up a recycling facility set up by the manufacturer. Even Best Buy has a successful recycling program that aims to reduce e-waste within the country.
   
   
10. Recycling Could Lead To An Increase In Jobs
    Now, this is quite an interesting fact about recycling techniques. It boosts employment opportunities for people and can create more than 70 percent jobs for works in waste management and other sectors too. Those who are employed in the reuse or repair of electronics can easily work in recycling facilities. Other than that, plastic or paper waste recycling can also offer employment to people across the globe.
    

To Sum Up

These are top ten facts about recycling that you should know in 2022. The future of the planet and world depends on waste reduction which can only be practiced successfully if more people are aware of recycling methods and processes. If you are looking to make a difference and prevent harmful toxins from ending up in the oceans or in landfills, then it is a good idea to recycle as much waste as possible.