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<br />The Environmental Benefits of Roseville's Recycling Program in 2006 <br />To better understand the environnlcntal benefits of recycling, it can be helpful to translate <br />the number of tons recycled into the number of trees replaced by recycled paper, energy <br />savings, the equivalent greenhouse gas reduction, water conservation, ete. <br /> <br />Several environnlcntal calculators have been created to attempt to translate recycling tons <br />into energy savings or greenhouse gas cm.issions reduction. The equations used in these <br />calculations try to take into account the "full life cycle" of each material.. _ everything <br />fi-Olll off-setting the denland for 1110re virgin materials (tree harvesting, 111ining, ere.) to <br />preventing the pollution that would have occurred if that material Vlcre disposed of <br />(landtllled or incinerated). Different calculators may include some or all of the many <br />factors that contribute to the "full life cycle," so results fi'om calculator to calculator will <br />vary. <br /> <br />The EnviroI1l11ental Protection Agency (EP A) created an environll1ental calculator as part <br />of its study of waste lllanagenlent practices as they relate to greenhouse gas errussions. This <br />calculator is conul1011ly used in the recycling industry. <br />(http://epa.gov / climatechange/vrycd/waste/ calculators/W al111_Form.html) <br /> <br />There are several online sources that you can use to can further translate the greenhouse <br />gas ell1issions reduction and energy savings into everyday activities (such as cars off the <br />road or number of trees saved). Again, different calculators will yield different results <br />depending on their assunlptions and equations. <br /> <br />According to the EPA calculator, Roseville's 2006 recycling efforts resulted in the <br />following enviromnental benefits: <br /> <br /> <br />8537 metric tons <br />(MTCE) (MTC02E). <br />MTCE (Metric tom of carbon equivalent), MTC02E (Metric tom of carbon dioxide emissions) are figures commonly <br />used when discussing greenhouse gas emissions. <br /> <br />3,441.21 Tons <br /> <br />For more infonl1ation, visit: <br />http:// epa.gov / climatechange/wycd/waste/ measuregbg.html#cbck <br /> <br />Use of Biodiesel in Recycling Trucks in Roseville <br />In addition to the tlgures noted above, Eureka <br />Itecyding runs their tlucks in l~osevilJe on a 20% <br />biodiesel blend, which further reduces greenhouse gas <br />enlissions. For lTIOre information, see the enclosed <br />"Benefiting From Biodiesel" Fact Sheet (Appendix D). <br /> <br />