Sustainability

The University of Maryland has set a long-term goal of recycling 35% of the campus' solid waste. To achieve this goal, all members of the campus community must play a part. From the students in the halls who recycle cans and bottles to the staff who work in the facilities across campus, each of us have an important role to play in achieving this goal.

There are three primary reasons why recycling makes good sense. It saves energy, conserves natural resources, and helps protect the environment.

• Recycling saves energy. For example, making new aluminum cans from recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy than the same process using raw materials.
• Recycling conserves natural resources. This is especially true when we recycle metal and paper.
• Recycling helps protect the environment. By reducing the amount of waste we generate, we help minimize the threat posed by harmful substances within the waste stream. Recycling also reduces the volume of waste that must be incinerated or land filled.

Source: Maryland Department of the Environment.