Facts and figures

VCU Green Report

In 2008, VCU recycled the following materials:

• 1,187,640 pounds of paper (594 tons)
• 499,020 pounds of cardboard (250 tons)
• 274,540 pounds of scrap metal (137 tons)
• 68,580 pounds of computers and electronics (34 tons)
• 51,340 pounds of aluminum, glass and plastic containers (26 tons)
• 30,600 pounds of wood pallets (15 tons)

Recycling facts

• Recycling one ton of paper saves 463 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water, 4,100 kilowatt hours of energy and 17 trees. It also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 850 pounds a year.
• Recycling one ton of steel uses 40 percent less water than making virgin steel, reduces air pollution by 86 percent and water pollution by 76 percent. It saves enough energy to run a 60 watt light bulb for 26 hours.
• Recycling one ton of plastic saves 76 million BTU’s of energy. It takes 1,050 milk jugs (HDPE #2) to make a 6-foot plastic lumber park bench. It takes five soda bottles (PETE #1) to make the fiberfill for one coat.
• Recycling one ton of aluminum saves enough energy to run a television for three hours. It reduces air pollution by 95 percent. Energy is reduced by 90 percent by making aluminum cans from recycled content versus mining new bauxite aluminum ore. It also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 13 tons.