What does recycling prevent?*1 pointEnergy wasteLandfill pollutionResource depletionEnvironmental damage

Recycling helps to prevent several environmental issues:

1. Energy Waste: Recycling materials often uses less energy than producing new ones. For example, recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy needed to make new ones from raw materials.

2. Landfill Pollution: By recycling, we reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills, thus reducing the harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses that are produced from waste in these landfills.

3. Resource Depletion: Recycling reduces the need for extracting, refining, and processing raw materials all of which create substantial air and water pollution. As recycling saves energy it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change.

4. Environmental Damage: By reducing the need to extract and process raw materials, recycling helps to reduce air and water pollution and conserves natural resources. This results in less damage to the environment.