There are many compelling reasons to recycle, for example, recycling saves energy, benefits the economy, preserves resources and is better for wildlife, but the majority of Americans do it. not recycle. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only thirty-eight percent of Americans identify as “avid recyclers.” This is an alarming statistic considering the average American generates 4.4 pounds of waste per day. As a nation, this country produces approximately 250 million tons of waste each year. Only thirty-five percent of the millions of tons of waste collected each year in the United States are recycled. There are a myriad of reasons given by those who do not recycle. For example, some Americans view recycling as impractical, others cite lack of space to recycle while others claim recycling is difficult. Perhaps an incentive would encourage more people to be environmentally responsible. Often, people are moved to act if they have enough incentive to act. There should be a financial incentive for people to recycle, which would increase the number of citizens who recycle and reduce the amount of recyclable items in landfills. Reusing an item requires less energy than making a new item from raw materials. Plus, recycling is good for the economy. When aluminum cans are recycled, it takes ninety-five percent less energy than to make a new can from the original source of bauxite. If just one ton of aluminum is recycled, more than 207 million pounds of Btu are saved. This is equivalent to 1,665 gallons of gasoline or 36 barrels of crude oil. When new products are made, energy is used to bring the materials together and make the product. Recycling saves the energy used to extract the material and generally requires less...... middle of paper ......Energy Star recognized item as a geothermal heat pump they also benefit from a federal tax credit. Additionally, companies like Whole Foods grocery stores offer a twenty-five cent credit per bag if a customer brings their own bags. CVS offers a similar program, giving customers a dollar for every four times they don't need a bag for their purchase. These programs encourage consumers to make a wise environmental choice and reward them when they do so. The same could be accomplished with recycling. Since money is a compelling motivator for a large percentage of people, providing a financial incentive for recycling would increase the level of participation in recycling programs, which would be beneficial for the environment and good for the economy. Using financial incentives to encourage recycling not only benefits the consumer but also the planet..