There are many reasons to recycle. Recycling saves our natural resources, uses less energy, frees up space in our landfills, and creates new industry, which in-turn creates more jobs and more economic growth. There are many reasons why we should recycle, but recycling alone is not the only answer. Reducing your household waste by bringing your reusable shopping bags to collect your groceries, be more self conscious of the products you buy and the packaging they come in, so that you can recycle the material that your local Recycling Drop Off accepts. Reusing things so they don't have to be thrown out, or giving them to someone else that may need them or making something more useful out of them.

Some things that may help you reconsider your shopping habits, so that you can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle:

-- Avoid purchasing disposable goods such as paper towels and disposable razors

-- Buy in bulk when possible and use your own containers

-- Buy products made with minimal packaging or recyclable packaging, which local drop offs accept.

-- Avoid plastic packaging which cannot be recycled

-- Buy products made with recycled materials

-- Bring your own bags to the store

-- Carry a reusable mug

-- Make double-sided copies, which uses less paper

-- Re-use paper for scratch paper instead of note pads

-- Use rechargeable batteries

-- Use long-life fluorescent light bulbs

-- Voice your product packaging preferences to store managers and business owners

-- Rethink, "Do I really need this un-recyclable, non-recycled, won't use it again, item?"

1. It takes 75,000 trees each week to produce the Sunday edition of the New York Times.
2. If Americans recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save 25 million trees a year.
3. Recycling and Reusing the material in “tin” cans reduces energy use by 74 percent, air pollution by 85 percent, solid waste by 95 percent and water pollution by 76 percent.
4. It takes 95 percent less energy to make aluminum by recycling it than by producing it from its natural ore, bauxite. It costs less, too.
5. The average American uses 580 pounds of paper each year. As a nation, we consume 850 million trees annually.
6. In 1991, the Great Wall of China became the second largest man-made structure in the world. The largest was Fresh Kills Landfill, serving New York City. It is now the highest point on the east coast.
7. Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.
8. For every glass bottle recycled, we save enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours.
9. Every year, Americans throw away enough office and writing paper to build a wall 12 feet high from New York to Los Angeles.
10. In one year, American steel recycling saves enough energy to heat and light 18 million homes. One pound of recycled steel saves enough energy to light a 60 wall bulb for 24 hours.

1. Recycling in Illinois keeps over 5 million tons a year of useful materials out of the landfills.
2. Over 2,400 recycling and reuse establishments do business in Illinois.
3. Recycling in Illinois saves enough energy to heat and light 578,000 homes.
4. Recycling and reuse employs over 56,000 Illinois citizens.
5. The annual payroll for these employees is more than $1.8 billion.
6. The average annual wage for recycling and reuse workers is above the Illinois average.
7. Manufacturing with recycled commodities in Illinois reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons (carbon equivalent) a year.
8. Recycling and reuse establishments do $12.2 billion worth of business a year in Illinois.
9. The recycling and reuse industry annually contributes $269 million in state and local tax revenues.
10. Water pollution in Illinois is reduced by 21,500 tons of various contaminants each year by recycling.
11. Air pollution in Illinois is reduced by 131,000 tons of various contaminants each year by recycling.
12. Paper recycling in Illinois saves 53.3 million trees each year – and the wildlife habitat that goes with them.

1. Commit to recycle and buy recycled products both at home and at work or school.
2. Learn what materials you can recycle in your community and do your best to recycle all you can.
3. When shopping, purchase products that are packaged in materials you can recycle locally.
4. Visit a recycling center in your area. See how your recycled paper and containers are sorted and prepared for manufacturing into new products.
5. Read product labels. At your local grocery, department center, look for products with recycled content, and buy some. Look for “safe bets” that always have recycled content: Steel, Aluminum, Glass or Molded Paper Pulp containers (like egg cartons).
6. Ask your local retailer to stock more products with recycled content, or write the manufacturer of your favorite products asking them to use recycled materials.
7. Organize an event such as a display of recycled content products at your school, office, store or church, or a tour of a facility that manufactures recycled-content products.
8. Learn more about how recycling helps preserve resources, protects the environment and benefits the economy, then teach some kids about the importance of recycling and buying recycled.
9. Don't forget waste reduction is important too. Look for ways to avoid making garbage, try composting.
10. Visit the great outdoors and enjoy the clear air, clean water and litter-free landscapes that recycling helps make possible.