4.1 Recycling saves energy
Recycling saves energy as the energy for recycling is less than the energy for its generation from original materials.
- Recycling of aluminium products consumes only 5 per cent of the energy needed to make a can from aluminium.
- Papers or newspapers: the paper used can be recycled into new paper using only 55 per cent of the energy needed to make it from trees.
- Plastics can be recycled into other plastic products using roughly 33 per cent of the energy for producing the plastic from its original.