About the benefits of recycling:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycle#Benefits

The article in wikipedia is very detailed and also gives many links to other sites. I add just three links that are not mentioned thereL 

 The global recycling site:

http://www.grn.com/

gives you data on almost every aspect of the market with weight recycled ton / units with very detailed sub-categories

Here is a link to the recycling in Canada : 

 http://www.recycle.nrcan.gc.ca/stats_e.htm

Here is a link to the HISTORY & STATISTICS OF U.S. WASTE PRODUCTION & RECYCLING

http://www.tufts.edu/tuftsrecycles/USstats.htm