Recycling Savings Calculator
Calculate energy savings and CO2 reduction from recycling common materials like aluminum, paper, glass, and plastic.
Annual Energy Saved
1,404 kWh
Annual Energy Saved vs Weekly Aluminum
Formula
## 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**
Exemplo Resolvido
A household recycling 1 lb aluminum, 5 lbs paper, 3 lbs glass, 2 lbs plastic per week.
- 01Aluminum: 1 * 52 * 7.0 = 364 kWh
- 02Paper: 5 * 52 * 2.5 = 650 kWh
- 03Glass: 3 * 52 * 0.5 = 78 kWh
- 04Plastic: 2 * 52 * 3.0 = 312 kWh
- 05Total: 364 + 650 + 78 + 312 = 1,404 kWh saved
Perguntas Frequentes
Which material saves the most energy when recycled?
Aluminum saves the most energy per pound (95% vs virgin production). Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours.
What percentage of waste is recyclable?
About 75% of municipal waste is recyclable, but the US only recycles about 32%. Paper, metals, glass, and plastics 1-2 are widely accepted in curbside programs.
Does recycling really make a difference?
Yes. Recycling all recyclable waste in the US would save 250 million metric tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to removing 50 million cars from the road.