- Each year, around 25,000 tons of material are recycled in the RRRASOC area. Recycling and reusing that material for manufacturing provides distinct environmental benefits such as the following:
- Recycling by RRRASOC’s residents annually reduces greenhouse gas emission (GHG) by approximately 6,000 metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE) - equal to nearly 4 percent of their total GHG emissions.
- Recycling in our communities reduces the emission of airborne pollutants by nearly 300 tons every year, not including GHG.
- Emissions of waterborne pollutants are reduced more than 40 tons through recycling each year.
- About 100,000 trees are saved annually by RRRASOC’s recycling efforts.
- Each year, approximately 100 billion Btu’s are conserved through RRRASOC’s recycling efforts, equal to the amount of energy consumed by more than 1,000 homes in one year!
- Recycling creates nine jobs for every ton of material recycled, while only one job is created if that same ton is landfilled.
- Using recycled paper instead of virgin materials reduces air pollution by 74 percent and water pollution by 35 percent.
- Recycling glass reduces air pollution by 20 percent and mining wastes by 80 percent.
- Using recycled aluminum instead of virgin ore reduces air pollution by 95 percent and water pollution by 97 percent.
- Using recycled iron and steel cuts air pollution by 86 percent, water pollution by 76 percent and mining wastes by 97 percent.
- Recycling glass reduces water use by 50 percent.
- For every ton of paper you recycling, you save 17 trees, 464 gallons of oil, 42 gallons of gasoline, and 7,000 gallons of water.
- Recycling one glass bottle save enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours.
- Recycling one tin can save enough energy to run a television for three hours.
- RRRASOC communities recycle and compost more than 30 percent of their waste every year!
What goes in the Recycling Bin?
- Number 1 & 2 Plastic Bottles
- Rinse – Throw lids in trash, No cups, No butter tubs, No trays (Even if there is a 1 or 2 on the bottom)
- Newspaper
- Glossy inserts are okay, DO NOT PLACE THEM IN PLASTIC BAGS
- Tin, Steel & Aluminum Food & Drink Cans
- Rinse-No scrap metal
- Clear, Green & Brown Glass Bottles and Jars
- Rinse- Throw lids in trash, No other type of glass
- Glossy Magazines & Catalogs
- Bundle with string or strong rubber bans
- Corrugated Cardboard
- Bundle with string in 2’ x 2’ x 1’ thick bundles
- EMPTY Aerosol Cans
- Make sure they are empty – Throw lids in trash
- Telephone Books
- Loose in bin with other paper
City of Southfield Department of Public Works
26000 Evergreen Road
(248) 796-4860
Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC) Recycling Center
20000 W. 8 Mile Road
(please enter from Mapleridge, one block east of Evergreen Road)
www.rrrasoc.org
(248) 208-2270