Although recycling uses energy, overall it reduces climate emissions, as recycling a material generally uses far less energy than manufacturing from virgin materials.
This conclusion is confirmed by many studies, including a recent study done for the Government by the consultants ERM,(2) and a study carried out for the govemment-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). (3) The WRAP study assessed the relative greenhouse gas savings associated with current UK levels of recycling for paper/cardboard, glass, plastics,aluminium and steel, and concluded: