How Recycling Benefits the Economy

Recycling a ton of "waste" provides twice the economic benefit than burying it in the ground.  California provides a good example of how recycling can benefit a state economy.

According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, recycling one additional ton of waste will pay $101 more in salaries and wages, produce $275 more in goods and services, and generate $135 more in sales than disposing it in a landfill.  Recycling is comparable to California's movie industry, where it accounts for 85,000 jobs, generates $4 billion in salaries and wages, and produces $10 billion worth of goods and services annually.

In addition to creating more jobs and greater economic activity at the local level, recycling generates $200 million per year in California's sales tax revenue.  These funds help support local government programs, such as transportation improvements, public safety, health and social services programs.