How Recycling Helps

Our Environment How Recycling Helps (NAPSA)—Americans’ recycling efforts have amounted to more than just a drop in the bucket. They have made a splash with both the environment and the economy. In 2001 Americans recycled enough aluminum cans tofill a hollowed-out Empire State Building 24 times. In 2001 alone, Americans’ recycling efforts saved enough energy to power Washington, D.C. for four and a half years. In addition, people received a collective one billion dollars for their efforts. Recycling helps eliminate the need to create millions of tons of new aluminum each year. That meansless air pollution, less production of greenhouse gases and less impact on the environment. However, statistics from Alcan show that nearly half of the 100 billion cans sold in the U.S. in 2001 were not recycled (2001’s recycling rate was a 15 year low). Fortunately, a numberof organizations work to encourage peo- ple to recycle. For example, con- sumers can visit www.alcan.com to learn ways to organize or par- ticipate in area can drives. Experts say the recycling efforts can help sort out a number of environmental problems.