DID YOU KNOW?
In San Francisco, properties in blocks with street trees sell for $5,000 to $10,000 more than similar properties on streets without trees. (Friends of the Urban Forest, San Francisco, Ca.)
Trees can provide a 40% reduction in heating costs in winter. Summer shading might provide even greater benefits. A single isolated tree generously supplied with water can transpire the energy equivalent to five average room air conditioners running 20 hours per day. (Newsweek, 11/8/79)
Recycled newspaper is transformed into lower grade newsprint, boxes, puzzles, egg cartons, cardboard writing tablet backs, and is shredded for insulation.
Recycled glass is crushed and used in the manufacture of new bottles, tile, bricks, and "glasphalt".
Recycled aluminum is almost totally recycled into aluminum cans.
Recycled plastic is used to produce lumber, playground equipment, flower pots, highway barriers, fencing, and boat docks.
The following amount of time is required to decompose:
paper 2-5 months
orange peels 6 months
milk cartons 5 years
plastic bag 10-12 years
leather shoes 25-40 years
nylon cloth 30-40 years
plastic 50-80 years
aluminum 80-100 years
Styrofoam infinity
As an average American, you produce 3.5 pounds of trash daily.
Half of our country's landfills will be filled to capacity in five years.
Each day, the United States creates enough garbage to fill the New Orleans Superdome twice a day.
The energy it takes to create one new aluminum can is equal to the energy used to recycle 20 aluminum cans
It takes 80 acres of trees to produce on Sunday issue of the New York Times.