When you recycle, not only are you diverting from the landfill and extending its life, but you are also saving energy. Aluminum, in particular, is very energy-intensive to mine and create products, but can be recycled many times with little loss in quality. According to the Aluminum Association, “Production of aluminum from recycled metal saves more than 90 percent of the energy that would otherwise be required by primary production.” Recycling reduces the amount of waste going into the landfill, therefore reducing the amount of land needed for the landfill, but also reduces your carbon footprint through reduced energy use. Because recycling and energy are so interconnected, I sat down recently with the Anchorage School District Recycling Coordinator, Andres Benitez Ospina. We discussed how it is more important to reduce or refuse certain items (such as plastic bags at the grocery store) than just to recycle them. Like energy efficiency and conservation, which AK EnergySmart lessons are focused on, reducing and refusing are easier and more effective than recycling (or new energy generation).
If you are in Anchorage, I recommend that you check out Andres’ updated recycling page with great information on what can be recycled and where as well as more information on reducing, reusing, refusing, and other useful resources. If you would like to teach about energy and recycling in the classroom, check out the K-12 AK EnergySmart lesson “Community Waste: Energy Debate” here or the National Energy Education Development Project module “All About Trash” here.
Andres also clued me into the EPA iWarm (individual Waste Reduction) tool which shows you how much energy you save when you recycle common household items. Check it out yourself:
If you are in the Mat-Su, Valley Community Recycling Solutions (VCRS) is a great place to take your students on a tour. They have an educational classroom, a clean facility and great volunteers and staff who are knowledgeable about recycling and energy. Check out their website here for information on what can be recycled at their facility and contact them at 907-745-5544 for a tour.
Recycling has many benefits in your school or home, and saving energy is just one of them! If you’d like to learn more about recycling in the Anchorage School District, email Andres.