Emissions Reduction

CArbon Footprint

Why Recycle?

Recycling is one of the best ways to reduce harmful emissions. Greenstar uses the EPA's Waste Reduction Model (WARM) to analyze the environmental benefits of recycling programs. With this tool, we can help our customers quantify the reduction in emissions and energy savings achieved by recovering recyclables from waste.

Greenstar recovers two million tons of recyclables each year. Carbon emissions are reduced by 6.1 million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MTCO₂E). The emissions reductions are equivalent to:

1.3 million cars removed from the roadway each year
182,000 households annual energy use
6 million barrels of oil
275 million gallons of gasoline
6.6 million cubic yards of landfill

Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint. Contact us today »

Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy

McKinsey & Company Analysis

Recycling is an important activity in our pursuit of a low carbon economy. McKinsey and Company analyzed all relevant sources of emissions reductions in its 2009 analysis, "Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy." It found that recycling not only has a high potential to reduce carbon emissions, but at a relatively low cost to other potential methods of reduction activities.

It ranked recycling in the net negative category (meaning that, over time, recycling should pay for itself), along with properly insulating your home, changing your light bulbs and driving hybrid cars.

Conclusion: Three percent of global emissions come from waste; all could be eliminated, the majority through recycling.