When organic materials such as wood and cardboard break down in landfills, they produce methane, which is 20 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Landfills account for 34% of methane emissions in the United States, so reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycling 1 ton of cardboard boxes, for example, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 4 tons of carbon dioxide.
Deconstructing instead of demolishing a 2,000 sq. ft. house reduces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking three cars off the road for a year. (Source: ReBuilding Center)
Learn more:
- Recycling C&D Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions poster/fact sheet
- Adding Up the Climate Benefits of C&D Recycling article from C&D World magazine highlights use of the GreenPoint Rated Climate Calculator to account for recycling's role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions
Content Title:
What are the climate change benefits of C&D reuse and recycling?
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What are the climate change benefits of C&D reuse and recycling?