Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit your community, the economy, and the environment. Products should only be recycled if they cannot be reduced or reused. EPA promotes the waste management hierarchy, which ranks various waste management strategies from most to least environmentally preferred. The hierarchy prioritizes source reduction and the reuse of waste materials over recycling.

Recycling provides many benefits to our environment. By recycling our materials, we create a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations. Recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products. It also helps reduce pollution of air, water, and land resulting from waste disposal.

Recycling can also benefit the economy. According to a study by the EPA in 2020, recycling and reuse activities in the United States accounted for 681,000 jobs, $37.8 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in tax revenues.