User Fees are in effect - Recyclables are free...The more you recycle, The more you save!

The Cattaraugus County waste reduction, reuse and recycling program is partially financed with a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Recycling Basics and Benefits _{(United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2023)}

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products.  Recycling can benefit your community, the economy, and the environment.  Products should only be recycled if they cannot be reduced or reused.

Benefits of Recycling:

Environment - Recycling provides many benefits to our environment.  By recycling our materials, we create a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations.

• Conserves natural resources - Recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products.
• Climate change - According to the most recent EPA data, the recycling and composting of municipal solid waste (MSW or trash) saved over 193 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2018.
• Energy savings - Recycling conserves energy.  For example, recycling just ten plastic bottles save enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours.  To estimate how much energy you can save by recycling certain products, the EPA developed the Individual Waste Reduction Model (iWARM).
• Waste and pollution reduction - Recycling diverts waste away from landfills and incinerators, which reduces the harmful effects of pollution and emissions.

EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency (October 27, 2023).  Recycling Basics and Benefits.  https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics-and-benefits

To learn more about recycling and it's benefits, please visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency's website at https://www.epa.gov/.