Campus Recreation

A Place For Everyone.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Affairs

Campus Recreation
ARC, Suite 1430
201 East Peabody Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-3806
campusrec@illinois.edu

Staff Intranet
Campus Recreation Goes Green

More Facts

Plastic

  • The world produces and uses approximately 20 times more plastic today than 50 years ago, up from 5 million tons in the 1950s to roughly 100 million tons today.
  • If we recycled every plastic bottle we used, we would keep 2 billion tons of plastic out of landfills.
  • We use enough plastic wrap to wrap all of Texas every year.

Alumnium

  • From 1972 to 2003 we threw away over one trillion aluminum cans (enough to reach around the earth 3,048 times).
  • A trillion empty beverage cans weigh 175 million tons—a quantity of scrap aluminum worth about $21 billion at today’s prices.
  • The aluminum metal in one trillion wasted cans is enough to replace the world’s entire commercial airline fleet 3.6 times.
  • A saving of 20.8 millions barrels of oil through recycling aluminum cans annually would save the equivalent of $17 billion in oil consumption (gasoline selling at $2.50/gallon).

Steel

  • Recycling the automobile oil filters sold annually in the United States would recover about 160,000 tons of steel or enough steel to make 16 new stadiums the size of Atlanta’s Olympic Stadium.
  • The steel industry annually saves the equivalent energy to power about 18 million households for a year.

Glass

  • One ton of glass made from 50% recycled materials saves 250 lbs of mining waste.

Paper

  • Recycled paper generates 95% less air pollution: each ton saves 60 lbs of air pollution.
  • Recycling of each ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water.
  • Every year enough paper is thrown away to make a 12 foot wall from New York to California.
  • If offices throughout the country increase the rate of two-sided photocopying from the 1991 figure of 20% to 60% they could save the equivalent of about 15 million trees.

Energy Tips Around Home

Electronic Recycling Options

Looking for More Green Ideas and Facts?

Go Green Videos

Other Ways to be Environmentally Friendly

  • Eat local and organic foods.
  • Connect all electronics to a power strip so all power is cut while these items are not in use.
  • Shut off water while brushing your teeth and shaving.
  • Do not open windows when using air conditioning or heat.
  • Do not leave refrigerator doors open.
  • Turn off lights when you leave any room.
  • Utilize natural light for warmth in the winter and close shades for cooler temperatures in the summer.
  • Do not use space heaters.
  • Do not use plastic bags. When shopping ask for paper (and then recycle them) or bring your own canvas bags to carry groceries.
  • Continue your education by checking websites, news articles, and other resources for up-to-date information.