Why is Recyling Important?

Recycling is important for many reasons. Often we promote recycling as a way to keep waste
out of landfills, which are often unpopular. It is also important to remember that recycling recovers
valuable raw materials. If we make aluminum cans from recycled cans, then we don't have to disturb
the environment by mining and smelting the mineral bauxite which is used in the manufacture of
aluminum. Finally, recycling reduces pollution and saves energy that would have been expended when
making products from "virgin" or unrecycled raw materials. In many places, you may be required or
encouraged by law to recycle. There are laws in several states making it illegal to put yard waste
(cut grass from mowing the lawn, or raked leaves) into landfills. Residents of these states have to leave
yard waste for special collections where it is taken and composted. Many states have "Bottle Bill"s which
require a deposit (5 or 10 cents each) on bottles and cans when you buy beverages. These programs
help divert a large quantity of plastic and glass containers from landfills. Recycling works best when we
remember to buy and use products made from recycled materials, such as newspaper or glass.

Fact of the Day!

Global warming isn’t opinion. It’s a scientific reality. And the science tells us that human activity has made enormous impacts to our planet that affect our well-being and even our survival as a species.

The world’s leading science journals report that glaciers are melting ten times faster than previously thought, that atmospheric greenhouse gases have reached levels not seen for millions of years, and that species are vanishing as a result of climate change. They also report of extreme weather events, long-term droughts, and rising sea levels.



All FOTD (fact of the day)s are found at www.stopglobalwarming.org

What is Global Warming?

The Earth as an ecosystem is changing, attributable in great part to the effects of globalization and man. More carbon dioxide is now in the atmosphere than has been in the past 650,000 years. This carbon stays in the atmosphere, acts like a warm blanket, and holds in the heat — hence the name ‘global warming.’

The reason we exist on this planet is because the earth naturally traps just enough heat in the atmosphere to keep the temperature within a very narrow range - this creates the conditions that give us breathable air, clean water, and the weather we depend on to survive. Human beings have begun to tip that balance. We've overloaded the atmosphere with heat-trapping gasses from our cars and factories and power plants. If we don't start fixing the problem now, we’re in for devastating changes to our environment. We will experience extreme temperatures, rises in sea levels, and storms of unimaginable destructive fury. Recently, alarming events that are consistent with scientific predictions about the effects of climate change have become more and more commonplace.


This information was found at http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/sgw_learnmore.asp