Newfoundlanders and Labradorians recycled 157 million used beverage containers through MMSB's province-wide network of Green Depots in 2009-10. That's 7.7 million more than the previous year, representing a five per cent increase, and a record high since the program began in 1997.

Research conducted by the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) indicates that last year the provincial Used Beverage Container Recycling Program saved the same amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as would be saved by planting eight million trees. GHG emissions are measured in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. MMSB has estimated that the 157 million used beverage containers that were recycled last year saved 8,768 metric tonnes of GHG emissions. That's equivalent to taking 1,461 cars off the road.

"We have always known that recycling is good for the environment, but now we have documented the impact that recycling used beverage containers has on reducing our collective ecological footprint on the earth," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "Participating in MMSB's Used Beverage Container Recycling Program is one positive action people in our province can take to reduce the impact on our environment."

Utilizing industry standard processes, MMSB conducted its own research on the carbon footprint of the Used Beverage Container Recycling Program. Stantec Consulting, a sustainable design and GHG consulting firm, reviewed the research and methodology and confirmed that the results provide an accurate representation of the carbon footprint of MMSB's Used Beverage Container Recycling Program.

"Green Depot customers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador are really making a difference one beverage container at a time" said Leigh Puddester, Chair and CEO of MMSB. "Each beverage container recycled means a smaller carbon footprint and that means a healthier, greener future for our province and the earth."

This research reinforces how important recycling is to the environment. When beverage containers are recycled into new products, it's not necessary to manufacture new products from raw materials, resulting in less depletion of natural resources such as aluminum and petroleum reserves. At the same time, as this study shows, recycling helps to reduce GHG emissions which contribute significantly to global warming.

Recycling aluminum cans into new cans takes 95 per cent less energy than creating new ones from raw material. In fact, the energy saved from the aluminum cans recycled by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians last year would power three hours of television in every home in the province, every day for almost an entire year.