How does recycling benefit the Environment?

Recycling reduces the use of natural resources by reusing materials: 94% of the natural resources used by Americans are nonrenewable. Non-renewable, natural resource use has increased from 59% in 1900 and 88% in 1945. Recycling saves non-renewable resources. For example, by not recycling paper, 80% more wood will need to be harvested by 2010 to meet growing paper consumption demands. However, through active paper recycling, only 20% more wood will need to be harvested by 2010.