According to NRC.org (National Recycling Coalition) here are the Ten Reasons to Recycle:

1. Good for our economy 
American companies rely on recycling programs to provide the raw materials they need to make new products.

2. Creates jobs 
Recycling in the U.S. is a $236 billion a year industry. More than 56,000 recycling and reuse enterprises employ 1.1 million workers nationwide.

3. Reduces waste 
The average American discards seven and a half pounds of garbage every day. Most of this garbage goes into to landfills, where it’s compacted and buried.

4. Good for the environment 
Recycling requires far less energy, uses fewer natural resources, and keeps waste from piling up in landfills.

5. Saves energy 
Recycling offers significant energy savings over manufacturing with virgin materials. Manufacturing with recycled aluminum cans uses 95% less energy.

6. Preserves landfill space 
No one wants to live next door to a landfill. Recycling preserves existing landfill space.

7. Prevents global warming 
In 2000, recycling of solid waste prevented the release of 32.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the unit of measure for greenhouse gases) into the air.

8. Reduces water pollution 
Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.

9. Protects wildlife 
Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands, rivers and other places essential to wildlife.

10. Creates new demand 
Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy.