Recycling saves the Village money every year

Recycling has numerous benefits for the environment. It conserves natural resources by minimizing the need for virgin materials, such as trees, oil, and minerals. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding the energy-intensive process of extracting and processing virgin materials.

Recycling also helps to reduce pollution by diverting waste from landfills and incinerators, which can release harmful toxins into the air, soil, and water. It also helps to conserve space in landfills, which are rapidly filling up in many parts of the world.

You may still be wondering what is actually happening with plastic, glass, and paper waste in the Village of North Palm Beach. Our municipality has recycled a total of 244.15 tons of blue and yellow bin material in the first quarter of 2023. 

That material then gets sorted and prepared to go to market, where it will be processed to produce new products. In contrast, if the material was not recycled and instead went to a landfill, The Village would have incurred a cost of $42 a ton to dispose of the waste. 

That bill adds up fast! In fact, in the first three months of this year it would have cost The Village $10,254 to throw away our recyclables.

In addition to environmental benefits, recycling also has economic benefits. It creates jobs in the recycling industry and generates revenue for businesses that collect and process recyclable materials.

The Environmental Committee encourages all residents to familiarize themselves with the Solid Waste Authority's recycling webpage, which provides additional information about recycling.

Overall, recycling is an important part of sustainable living. By recycling, Village residents can conserve resources, reduce pollution, and protect the environment for future generations.