Recycled Materials: Benefits, Uses & Environmental Impact

Recycling materials can keep unnecessary waste out of our landfills; most materials can be re-used several times before losing their strength. There are various common uses for recycled materials.

Metals

• Scrap metal can be recycled endlessly. Aluminum is often recycled into soft drink cans and steel is used for construction materials and automobile manufacturing.

Plastics

• Plastics are most commonly recycled from bottles; however, the plastic recycled from bottles is rarely used to make new bottles. Plastic is primarily recycled into consumer products and construction materials.

Glass

• Glass can be recycled infinitely without losing its strength; glass from windows and bottles is often re-used to make similar products.

Paper

• Paper can be recycled up to eight times; after that, it starts to lose its strength. Recycled paper is commonly used in newspaper and magazine printing.

Cotton

• Cotton is more difficult to recycle than other materials; it losing its strength over time and through use. Nevertheless, cotton from clothing is often re-used to make products such as bags. Recycled cotton must usually be combined with other materials to strengthen it.