Recycling Savings Calculator

Calculate energy savings and CO2 reduction from recycling common materials like aluminum, paper, glass, and plastic.

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Annual Energy Saved

1,404 kWh

Annual CO2 Saved0.59 metric tons
Aluminum Energy Saved364 kWh
Annual Material Recycled572 lbs

Annual Energy Saved vs Weekly Aluminum

View formula & how it works →

How to Calculate Recycling Savings

Recycling saves energy compared to manufacturing from raw materials.

Energy Savings (kWh per lb recycled)

  • Aluminum: 7.0 kWh/lb (95% energy savings vs virgin)
  • Paper: 2.5 kWh/lb (60% savings)
  • Glass: 0.5 kWh/lb (30% savings)
  • Plastic: 3.0 kWh/lb (70% savings)

    • Formula

    Energy Saved = Weight * kWh per lb * 52 weeks

    Example Calculation

    A household recycling 1 lb aluminum, 5 lbs paper, 3 lbs glass, 2 lbs plastic per week.

    1. 01Aluminum: 1 * 52 * 7.0 = 364 kWh
    2. 02Paper: 5 * 52 * 2.5 = 650 kWh
    3. 03Glass: 3 * 52 * 0.5 = 78 kWh
    4. 04Plastic: 2 * 52 * 3.0 = 312 kWh
    5. 05Total: 364 + 650 + 78 + 312 = 1,404 kWh saved

    Frequently Asked Questions

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