The garbage
in a landfill takes about 30
years to decompose.
Each person throws
away approximately
four pounds of
garbage every day.
Most families throw
away about 88 pounds
of plastic every
year.
84% of all household
waste can be
recycled.
It takes 90% less
energy to recycle
aluminum cans than
to make new ones.
The energy we save
when we recycle one
glass bottle is
enough to light a
traditional light
bulb for four hours.
5 billion aluminum
cans are used each
year.
The amount of wood
and paper we throw
away is enough to
heat 50 million
homes for 20 years.
In 1995 over 200 of
the world landfills
were full.
Only 10% of every
landfill can be
cleaned up.
We each use about
12,000 gallons of
water every year.
1/3 of all fresh
water is used to
flush toilets.
Earth is 2/3 water -
but all the fresh
water streams only
represent
(1/100) one
hundredth of one
percent!
14 billion pounds of
trash is dumped into
the ocean
every year.
More than 1/3 of all
energy is used by
people at home.
Here is an example
of the water we use
everyday:
3-7 gallons for
toilet
25-30 gallons for
tub
50-70 gallons for a
10 minute shower
1 washing machine
load uses 25-40
gallons
1 dishwasher load
uses 9-12 gallons
Things to think
about....
One bus carries as
many as 40 cars.
The 500 million
automobiles on earth
burn an average of 2
gallons of fuel a
day.
Each gallon of fuel
releases 20 pounds
of carbon dioxide
into the air.
Each gallon of motor
oil can contaminate
up to 2 million
gallons of water
Approximately 5
million tons of oil
produced in the
world each year ends
up in the ocean.
Recycled paper
requires 64% less
energy than making
paper from virgin
wood pulp, and can
save many trees.
Computers pose an
environmental threat
because much of the
material used to
make them is
hazardous. A typical
monitor contains 4-5
pounds of lead.
Each year billions
of used batteries
are thrown away in
the United States.
This constitutes 88%
of the mercury and
54% of the cadmium
deposited into our
landfills.
Here is an example
of how long some
things take to break
down:
Plastics - 500 years
aluminum cans - 500
years
organic materials -
6 months
cotton, rags, paper
- 6 months
