Date: May 2, 2007
Source: Governor Edward G. Rendell
Recycling in Pennsylvania Sets Record at Nearly 5 Million Tons
Savings to Business, Industry Nearly $263 Million
Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that Pennsylvanians recycled a record 4.86 million tons of municipal waste in 2005, saving consumers and industries nearly $263 million in disposal waste costs and providing materials to businesses with an estimated market value of $577 million.
"The recycling industry is a significant contributor to Pennsylvania's economic vitality and environmental health," Governor Rendell said. "We're building market demand for recyclable materials, while benefiting and supporting the communities that collect these materials.
"The more we recycle, the less we put into our landfills. And, the more we recycle, the more economic opportunities we create by providing raw materials for Pennsylvania's manufacturers."
The commonwealth's recycling and reuse industry includes more than 3,200 establishments with total annual sales of $18.4 billion. The industry employs more than 81,000 people and has an annual payroll of $2.9 billion. The employment, payroll and sales numbers are more than any other state in the northeast United States and are the second highest in the nation.
In addition, Pennsylvania's recycling and reuse industry provides an estimated $1.8 billion in indirect benefits to the economy and a direct impact of $305 million each year through the tax base.
According to reports filed by Pennsylvania counties for 2005, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the state diverted 4.86 million tons of municipal waste from disposal at landfills and waste-to-energy facilities, which continued an upward trend that began with passage of the state's recycling law in 1988. Municipal waste includes typical refuse from households, businesses, schools and institutions, as well as industry offices and lunchrooms.
The economic benefit of recycling in 2005 can be calculated, in part, by using published commodity prices for goods, such as steel cans, glass, plastic bottles and corrugated paper. An analysis of the nearly 1.5 million tons of Pennsylvania's 2005 recycling materials - with specific and identifiable prices - reveals that those materials were worth $130.3 million. If the 3.4 million tons of other materials that remain were valued at even half this amount, the total would be $577.4 million. This does not include the estimated value of avoided disposal, which can be calculated as more than $262 million at the estimated statewide average disposal cost of $54 per ton.
"The economic and environmental values of recycling are overwhelming benefits to Pennsylvania," Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. "The millions-of-tons of materials recovered are saving manufacturers money they can use to add jobs and expand their operations. These recovered materials are also preserving natural resources, which saves energy and reduces pollution. Pennsylvania is a leader in recycling, and we have challenged ourselves to reach even higher levels of growth and efficiency."
The environmental benefits of recycling extend far beyond diverting materials from landfills and incinerators.
Pennsylvania recycling saved energy: Pennsylvania's 2005 recycling efforts saved almost 98 trillion British thermal units (BTUs) of energy, enough to power more than 940,000 homes for one year in Pennsylvania, or the equivalent of conserving 786 million gallons of gasoline.
Pennsylvania recycling reduced air and water pollution: Pennsylvania recycling in 2005 eliminated more than 2.5 million metric tons of air emissions, including greenhouse gas emission reductions of 1.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent -- a savings of approximately 2.4 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the commonwealth. Part of the air emissions savings total was 7,731 metric tons of sulfur oxides, an important ingredient in acid rain formation. Nitrogen oxides, a precursor to smog, were reduced by 8,814 metric tons, an amount equal to 5.5 percent of these emissions from Pennsylvania electrical utilities. Water pollutant reductions totaled nearly 9,000 metric tons.
Recycling in 2005 eliminated more than 2.5 million metric tons of carbon equivalent -- a savings of approximately 3 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the commonwealth.
Pennsylvania recycling conserved natural resources: By recycling nearly 1.2 million tons of steel cans, appliances and similar materials, Pennsylvania industries saved 1.5 million tons of iron ore, 829,786 tons of coal and 71,124 tons of limestone. Through recycling newspapers, phone books, office paper, cardboard and mixed paper, the state saved the equivalent of 78 million tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
For more information, visit DEP's Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: "Recycling."
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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.
www.governor.state.pa.us/governor/cwp/view.asp?a=1115&q=452469.
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