The Importance of Recycling

At Moses B. Glick, we take recycling seriously because we understand how crucial it is for the health of our planet. The small actions we take every day—like tossing a piece of paper or a plastic bottle—add up. And though it might feel insignificant, the truth is that those small actions have a massive cumulative impact. In the U.S., over 2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away every hour. Office workers use an average of 10,000 sheets of paper per year, contributing to approximately 21 million tons of paper waste annually. When we adopt the mindset of "one piece won't make a difference," we're ignoring the bigger picture—landfills are filling up with materials that could be recycled, reused, and given new life.

For instance, only 12 percent of disposable water bottles are recycled in the U.S. every year, which is shockingly low. But there's good news: recycling plastic is not just better for the environment, it's also a huge energy saver. Recycling plastic uses 88 percent less energy than producing plastic from raw materials, and it saves twice as much energy as burning plastic in an incinerator. In fact, recycling just one ton of plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a two-person household for a year.

Paper, too, is a major resource. Americans use about 85 million tons of paper annually—about 680 lbs. per person. Recycling paper saves trees—each ton of recycled paper saves the life of 17 mature trees. And with aluminum, every recycled can helps conserve energy. The average person will recycle around 25,000 cans in their lifetime. Each aluminum can saved is enough energy to power a TV for three hours, and aluminum can be recycled thousands of times without losing its quality.

These facts should drive home the importance of recycling and remind us that even the smallest actions matter. Improper disposal of recyclable materials not only hurts our planet but also wastes valuable resources. As a company committed to sustainability, Moses B. Glick wants to encourage everyone to do their part—whether it's recycling a soda can, reducing paper waste, or simply being mindful of how we dispose of materials.

Together, we can make a difference. Let's reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect our planet for future generations.