Plastics are made from oil. When plastics are recycled less new oil must be used to make new plastics. The simplest, and most prevalent of plastic recycling, is to return shopping bags to the supermarket. Some supermarket chains even donate money to schools for all bags returned for recycling.

The most important things to recycle are the ones that most people think the least of when it comes to reusing. Nearly everyone is familiar with the large square recycling bins for paper and plastics; however it is the electronics recycling that is most beneficial. Broken televisions, old cell phones and outdated computers can all be recycled. The resources saved by doing so can keep us from further depleting world reserves of rare materials. Also, recycling electronics reduces the amount of toxic materials that end up in our groundwater supplies via landfill seepage.

Electronics recycling, computer recycling in particular, can be of great benefit to both the environment and the economy. Estimates show that nearly 75% of outdated electronics are being stored, and if all that can be recycled, the savings in resources and to the environment will be enormous. If they end up in landfills around the country, then the costs will be even more so.

Most recycling centers are now able to handle items such as cell phones, computers and other electronics. Recycling is not just for paper and plastic anymore.