8 interesting facts about recycling that will surprise you

8 interesting facts about recycling that will surprise you Shutterstock
Hanna Velyka

Proper disposal is a safety issue for all of us

Recycled plastic saves gasoline, one country in the world buys garbage from its neighbors, and glass can be recycled many times.
These and other interesting facts about recycling – plastic, glass, paper – were shared by the specialists of the Clean Lutsk Waste Management Center on Facebook.
It's hard to believe, but:

  1. Only 9% of all plastic in the world is recycled. The rest litter our planet.
  2. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 26,000 liters of water and 2.5 cubic meters of landfill space.
  3. Glass can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing its quality. Plastic, on the other hand, has a limited life cycle and cannot be reused after several recyclings.
  4. In countries where waste is sorted, the recycling rate reaches 60% or more. This reduces the burden on landfills and helps preserve natural resources.
  5. Each ton of recycled plastic saves up to 2,000 liters of gasoline. This significantly reduces air emissions and reduces dependence on oil.
  6. According to statistics, one person produces about 300 kg of garbage per year. This is almost the weight of a small car! Sorting helps to significantly reduce this figure.
  7. Batteries are extremely toxic: just one battery can contaminate up to 400 liters of water and 20 square meters of soil.
  8. Sorting in Sweden is so effective that the country has been forced to import waste to run its recycling plants for several years!

"Remember, every step in sorting is important. Together we can reduce the damage to nature! We invite everyone to join the sorting! This is your contribution to the cleanliness of Lutsk and the protection of the environment!" – they say in the Waste Management Center.

Earlier, EcoPolitic reported that a waste sorting experiment was successfully completed in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast. After that, the local authorities decided to expand it.

Related
Fire at a landfill site in Kryvyi Rih: the city has been plagued by the stench for four days
Fire at a landfill site in Kryvyi Rih: the city has been plagued by the stench for four days

Local air pollution levels were more than twice the limit

Ukrainians are paying the price for the ‘rubbish’ reform that local authorities have ignored – expert
Ukrainians are paying the price for the ‘rubbish’ reform that local authorities have ignored – expert

Virtually all towns and cities in Ukraine have failed to update their waste management model and are therefore, in effect, in breach of current legislation

Litter in the forest? Pay 51,000 UAH: penalties may increase for
Litter in the forest? Pay 51,000 UAH: penalties may increase for

If officials fail to take steps to eliminate illegal dumps, they will also be fined

A major clean-up in Holosiivskyi Park: Kyiv residents are invited to join the initiative on 20 June
A major clean-up in Holosiivskyi Park: Kyiv residents are invited to join the initiative on 20 June

The organisers provide a transfer from Kyiv to the national park and back