How does recycling reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills?

Recycling reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills by recovering and reprocessing materials that would otherwise be discarded as trash. This process diverts significant quantities of solid waste from disposal sites, which is increasingly important as landfilling becomes more expensive.1

The reduction of the waste stream occurs through several key mechanisms:

• Material Recovery: Facilities known as materials recovery facilities (MRFs) process waste to extract recyclables like paper, glass, metals, and plastics. By separating these items for use as raw materials in new products, the total amount of material requiring final disposal is decreased.21
• Reprocessing and Reuse: Once recovered, materials are melted, shredded, or pulped to be manufactured into new goods. For example, newsprint and cardboard are repulped, while aluminum and steel are processed for reuse by smelters and mills.234
• Alternative Applications: Some materials, such as shredded rubber or crushed glass, are repurposed for use in asphalt pavements or recreational structures, further extending their utility outside of a landfill.54

While recycling is a vital component of solid-waste management, it is not a total solution; some valueless residue will always require final disposal.4