Recycling facts and benefits
In 2003 Minnesota recycled 2.3 million tons of waste. That translates to huge savings for landfills, incinerators, greenhouse gas emissions, natural resources, and energy use.

LANDFILL & INCINERATOR SAVINGS
We didn’t need about 5 large garbage incinerators because of our recycling efforts.
or
We didn’t need about 10 large landfills because of our recycling efforts.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTIONS
We reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of
2.3 million cars because we recycled.

ENERGY SAVINGS
We didn’t need to produce the equivalent amount of energy
required to power 615,000 homes because we recycled.

NATURAL RESOURCES SAVINGS
We didn’t need 232,000 tons of coal because
we recycled in Minnesota.

5,750,000 trees did not get cut down because of
recycling paper in Minnesota.

The latest data from 2003 compiled by the Minnesota
Office of Environmental Assistance, www.moea.state.mn.us.

This fact sheet was developed using the Environmental Benefits
Calculator, a product of the National Recycling Coalition that
is available to members of the Recycling Association of Minnesota.