Recycling In Pennsylvania Topped 4.4 Million Tons in 2003, Saving Materials Valued At $68 Million and Avoiding Disposal Costs of More Than $240 Million
Pennsylvanians recycled a record 4.45 million tons of municipal waste in 2003, according to reports filed by Pennsylvania counties. Aside from the environmental gains of diverting waste from landfills, the economic benefits of recycling are estimated at more than $68 million.
"Residents continue to show their commitment to ensure the health of Pennsylvania's environment and economy by taking advantage of more recycling opportunities," DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty said during the announcement of the 2003 nembers. "Families and businesses, churches and schools are sending millions of tons of recyclables to manufacturers to generate new products rather than sending materials to landfills or burning them. Because of the commitment made by Pennsylvanians, our recycling and reuse industry leads the nation in creating jobs and in sales."
In 2003, the state diverted 4.45 million tons of municipal waste from disposal at landfills and waste-to-energy facilities. Municipal waste includes typical refuse from households, businesses, schools and institutions as well as industry offices and lunchrooms.
While many understand the importance of recycling to preserving our natural resources, recycling is also an engine of economic growth in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth's recycling and reuse industry includes more than 3,200 establishments with total annual sales of $18.4 billion. The industry employs more than 81,000 people and has an annual payroll of $2.9 billion. The employment, payroll and sales numbers are more than any other state in the Northeast and are the second highest in the nation.
In addition, Pennsylvania's recycling and reuse industry has an indirect effect on the economy estimated at $1.8 billion, and a direct impact on the tax base, contributing $305 million each year. The economic benefit of recycling in 2003 can be assessed in part by using published commodity prices for goods such as steel cans, glass, plastic bottles and corrugated paper. An analysis of 1.4 million tons of Pennsylvania's 2003 recycling reveals the materials were worth in excess of $50 million. If the remaining 3.3 million tons of other materials were valued at even half this amount, the total would be more than $68 million. This does not include the estimated value of avoided disposal, which can be calculated as more than $240 million at the estimated statewide average disposal cost of $54 per ton.
Of course, recycling has a profound effect on Pennsylvania's environment, as well.
Greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by Pennsylvania recycling: Pennsylvania recycling reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2.1 million metric tons of carbon equivalents per year, which is equal to 6 percent of all industrial carbon equivalent emissions from fossil fuel combustion in Pennsylvania and 2.6 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides and other emissions.
Pennsylvania recycling saved energy: Pennsylvania's recycling efforts saved 75.7 trillion BTUs of energy, equal to nearly 5.9 percent of all energy used by industry in Pennsylvania. This is equivalent to 610.7 million gallons of gasoline. It represents the amount of energy that would be required to power 739,969 homes for one year in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania recycling reduced air and water pollution: The recycling of paper, plastic, glass, aluminum cans and steel cans in Pennsylvania resulted in reductions of 8,230 metric tons of water pollutants and 285,430 metric tons of air pollutants (not including the greenhouse gas reductions already discussed). Recycling reduced emissions of sulfur oxides, an important ingredient in acid rain formation, by 7,295 metric tons - an amount equal to 0.8 percent of all such emissions from electrical utilities in the state. Nitrous oxides were reduced by 7,712 metric tons - an amount equal to 5.1 percent of emissions from Pennsylvania electrical utilities.
Pennsylvania's recycling conserved natural resources: By recycling 1.02 million tons of scrap metal in 2003, Pennsylvania's recycling efforts reduced the need for virgin materials by twice that amount, including 1.3 million tons of iron ore, 716,167 tons of coal and 61,386 tons of limestone. By recycling 577,601 tons of mixed paper, newsprint, phone books and office paper in 2003, Pennsylvania reduced the need to cut more than 7.6 million trees. On average, a live tree removes 60 pounds per year of air pollution from the environment.
Pennsylvania recycling first eclipsed four million tons in the state in 2002, and in 2003 its residents, businesses and institutions continued the upward trend.
The Governor's Growing Greener II initiative will ensure the continued success of recycling in Pennsylvania. The General Assembly continues to demonstrate that ensuring the highest standards of environmental protection while revitalizing communities remains bipartisan. Recently, the state legislature agreed to put a $625 million bond question to make significant investments to improve Pennsylvania's economic and environmental health before voters. The bond question appeared on the May 17th primary ballot.
