The United States: Top Ten
- With only about 5% of the world's population, the United States consumes 35% of the Earth's resources, and produces 35% of the waste stream.
- 80% of North Americas oil reserves have been discovered, and depleted.
- Every year Americans receive approximately 2 million tons of junk mail that is never opened.
- Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every HOUR.
- Every year Americans abandon 3 million cars on the sides of roads and in forests
- On the average, the 140 million cars in America are estimated to travel almost 4 billion miles in a day, and according to the Department of Transportation, they use over 200 million gallons of gasoline doing it.
- Every year we throw away 24 million tons of leaves and grass. Leaves alone account for 75% of our solid waste in the fall.
- The US has less than 4% of its forests left.
- About 1% of U.S. landfill space is full of disposable diapers, which take 500 years to decompose.
- Americans use 50 million tons of paper annually -- consuming more than 850 million trees.
Impact that Helps: Top Ten
- If just 25% of U.S. families used 10 fewer plastic bags a month, we would save over 2.5 BILLION bags a year.
- Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil.
- Energy saved from one recycled aluminum can will operate a TV set for 3 hours, and is the equivalent to half a can of gasoline.
- By turning down your central heating thermostat one degree, fuel consumption is cut by as much as 10%.
- Insulating your attic reduces the amount of energy loss in most houses by up to 20%.
- 1 Ton of carbon dioxide that is released in the air can be prevented by replacing every 75 watt light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs.
- lass produced from recycled glass instead of raw materials reduces related air pollution by 20%, and water pollution by 50%.
- Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil.
- Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
- Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.