The Importance and Reasons for Recycling - Term Paper Example

Recycling Recycling Introduction It’s with no doubt that the planet we are living would be a better place to live in if everyone would be involved in the recycling process. Recycling in itself so much misunderstood at it has a lot of myths surrounding it, yet it’s one of the most critical and important issues in our world of today. Recycling in the simplest form, an art of simply returning used materials to their raw materials component and equally using them to supplement or replace new materials in the production of new material (Martin, Williams & Clark, 2006, p. 360). Recycling is commonly known as the reuse and restoration of garbage, this is often confused as most people don’t recognize that recycling can be done by simply donating old clothes, reusing plastics containers in households to in food storage, and other such activities. In recent times, recycling and taking care of our environment as a whole is critically a big thing. While reusing our wastes seems to be the best method, often times this proofs to be a difficult task. Just everyone has a clear understanding that our environment is in way endangered. Of serious concerns is the amount of waste we put in the air, ground and water all year round. Looking at the world many places have been and continue to be, polluted garbage, toxic wastes and radioactive wastes (Shaufique, Sidique, & Joshi, 2010, p. 247). Recycling does come in handy in our today world of wastes. Many still might not know the importance of recycling and its help to our environment today. Of interest though is that recycling appears to be a concept generally introduced recently, but in actual terms recycling has been around for thousands of years. Before the introduction of the industrial age, people around then couldn’t make goods in a quicker and most convenient way. As a result this forced them to practices some form of recycling. During this error large scale recycling was at its rear existence due to technological limitation experienced. With the introduction of mass production of the industrial age comes along with utmost need to practice large-scale recycling (Shaufique, Sidique, & Joshi, 2010). It’s human nature that once products are available and purchased cheaply, then it makes sense to them to simply throw old items and pick new ones in that order. Sincerely this culture of simply disposing goods any how creates a number of environmental problems. Myths of Recycling The whole idea of recycling is not that wholly accepted, there are a lot of myths surrounding buying and uses of recycled products. This includes: Recycled products being hard to find in the market- well it used to be true but not anymore, as there are a lot of recycled products in our immediate vicinity, assumptions that recycled papers aren’t as good as non-recycled papers- as of today there is no big difference between recycled and non-recycled paper and recycled outputs costing more money- it clearly used to be the case sometimes ago especially on some materials but this is not the case recently actually today most recycled products are often cheaper than those from non-recycled products (Shaufique, Sidique, & Joshi, 2010). Additionally, Inferiority in recycled products quality- this is actually not the case, on the contrary recycled products have high qualities and are more reliable. In today’s world human beings are in way making many environmental ethics decisions in some broader formality. This includes: Decisions as to whether to continue to clear our forests all in the reason of human consumption, decisions as to whether to continue propagating life and the entire species altogether and decision as to whether in present world we continue to make more gasoline powered vehicles. Others include decision regarding human abilities to safeguard the environment for incoming future generations and most importantly how best should human being use and generally at the same time conserve the space environment for security and expansion of life (Martin, Williams, & Clark, 2006, p. 362). As a result it’s in my view that recycling bears more environmental benefits to human beings. Environmental Benefits of Recycling Recycling evidently helps the environment in very many ways more that it’s even imagined era. According to the green movement we are currently in the recycling era. More and more people, across the continents are seen taking bottles, cardboards and many other materials to recycling facilities and centers. Across cities, many recycling bins are seen bearing the trademark green arrows. Today we are seeing the likes of computers, printers and motor vehicles parts being recycled, if u simply cannot keep it you will probably be in a better place recycling it. Here is how recycling is beneficial to our environment: Resources Conservations. It’s in the best interest of common knowledge that the more plastic, metal, wood etc. that we recycle the less we have to turn for supply from our natural resources (Martin, Norbert, Eberhard, & Ernst, 2000, p. 92). Anything taken from the ecosystem serves but to damage it, hence understanding that recycling alone cannot remedy the damage already done, it will with no doubt help in preventing future damages. Energy saving and Emissions Reduction: While making finished goods from the raw materials, energy is used and harmful chemicals are emitted into the environment. Thus calling companies to try and use recycled materials, not only does the processing time goes down but also the general fumes that enter the atmosphere are equally reduced. Reduction in the general landfill wastes: large-scale manufactures always encounter the challenge of finding enough space to put used products, thus they resolve to the most common solution of taking large extensive land and disposing off their wastes there. This not only does it reduces the space available for plants to grow but also reduces space for animal to prosper. Incineration Reduction: the amount of rubbish and toxics sent to the incineration tremendously reduces when we recycle; this is attributed to the fact that recyclable materials are reprocessed into new better output products (Shaufique, Sidique, & Joshi, 2010). Ash that results from burning of rubbish always poses difficulties in its disposal and also gases that comes as a result of the burning also finds their way to the atmosphere. Recycling help keeps this consequence in check. Recycling also assist in environmental protection: Recycling in the very general sense reduces the need for mineral extraction, refining processing of the raw materials. As a result air and water pollution are effectively reduced. Climate change also has its share of reduction, due to reduction in greenhouse emissions. The far best advantage of recycling is that it its very useful in aiding in the increase of eco-friendly and greener environment. It provides a very healthy solution in the general reduction of pollution while at the same time promotes healthy living. The general importance for the reasons for recycling. Generation of financial income- There is money in the long run generated from recycling. For instance there are many unused things lying in our house, and which will eventually end in some dumpsite somewhere (Martin, Norbert, Eberhard, & Ernst, 2000). This can equally recycled and as result earn money from it. In the United States for example, a phone taken to the recycle center can earn the owner as much as an amount totaling to $50. The community at large also benefits financially as there would be reduced costs on waste disposal. Recycling builds communities as a whole- in almost each and every community in the country has an equally growing concern for recycling and the environment. People are more often seen working together in recycling programs and organizations, all with the same purpose of promoting recycling. This in the long run helps communities to be physically able to develop and sustain themselves. Recycling on a larger scale helps in building of stronger economy. In the general sense of nationwide scale, e.g. In the USA, recycling has a huge impact on economy, this is seen from job creation, and energy cost reduction and in environmental conservation. Recycling is also very Earth-friendly- the possibilities of dangerous chemicals emanating from the solid wastes dumped in landfills, contamination of the underground water is always eminent and a reality altogether. This among other is the price we have to pay as a result. On the other hand, it’s a proven fact from researches conducted, that by simply recycling 35 percent of earth trash in it reduces toxic emissions equivalent to taking 36 million cars off our roads (Shaufique, Sidique, & Joshi, 2010). Equally of great importance are the availabilities of facts about recycling, which necessitate recycling in the long run. In 2000 the amount of recycled materials from landfill was nearly 70 million tons; this was very impressive compared to that of 1990 that saw 34 million tones being recycled. 17 trees are equally saved for each and every tone of paper recycled in the long run (Schaik, 2004, p. 325). One glass bottle recycled saves a substantial amount of energy that can be used to light a bulb for four hours. Manufactures that depends on recycled materials in their production, not only saves water and energy but also produces less air and water pollution as compared to manufactures that use virgin raw materials. It’s a proven fact that it takes 95 percent less energy just to recycle aluminum than it takes to produce it from its raw materials products. In 2000 alone the amount of energy that was saved was equal to the amount of energy 6 million homes users uses annually. In the United States, recycled paper accounts for more than 37 percent of the entire raw materials used in the making of new paper products in the general economy and market (Martin, Williams, & Clark, 2006). This would have been otherwise generated from trees. Just by recycling one ton of steel an equal 2500 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone is equally conserved altogether combined. Mining being one of the most deadly occupations in the world utterly kills 40 of mines workers day, and many more equally injured. Recycling comes in handy in reducing the need to mine and as a results saves life. Recycling benefits both the economy and the environment, and this in turns benefits us as human beings. 75 percent of the total waste produce across the world is recyclable, but only 30 percent of the total waste produced ends up being recycled (Schaik, 2004, p. 327). The normal average person’s produces 1.5 tons of the total solid wastes per year; this translates to 4 pounds of waste on daily basis. How Individuals help in the recycling process Individuals should always take personal initiatives and recycle on daily bases, this way they act as good role models to others. While buying papers individuals should look for papers with at least 30 percent postconsumer recycled products. Also they should buy packages things that contain recycled packaging. Individuals should also go for paper as compared to plastics as brown papers are always made from recycled paper and also clearly very easy to recycle. Individuals should at all times try to use reusable commodities and avoid disposable commodities (Martin, Norbert, Eberhard, & Ernst, 2000). Putting all this in mind is not enough, the federal governments of respective nations should come in hand and put incentives apart from making and implementing laws on recycling. There should be pro-recycling policies set aside that foresees recycling policies in the nations. For instance, in the United States currently has eleven states offering monetary incentives for recycled products. The governments should also dictate recycling laws and incentives, this would utmost promotes the campaigns for recycling in their nations. Recycling encounters serious challenges where there are no governmental laws and policies to encourage the practice of recycling. It’s a proven fact that a nation has its government reluctant in formulating recycling laws and policies, suffers great consequences of environmental hazards. Also of equal challenge is the growth and increased in nations population growth rate at rate that recycling facilities in that area can comfortably accommodate. In the long run more of the wastes will end up being thrown rather than being recycled. Equally challenging to recycling processes is the high increased of people drinking bottled water; these bottles are generally not recyclable as they are made of numerous plastics materials. It’s also evidential that as more materials get recycled, pollution is substantially reduced and there is a tremendously increase in recyclables market and industry. Incentives clearly works in great proportions and as a results should be put in place in full swing. Nations would substantially increase their recycling rates in a more profound way if states government offers monetary incentives to recycling (Martin, Williams, & Clark, 2006). In conclusions, upon reviewing all aspects of recycling and its importance in our today world, I can confidently claim that indeed recycling is a very profitable activity both in the long run and short run. Recycling would also gain more momentum and profit if consumers at the end of the day had a lot to gain from recycling. This clearly leaves a lot of tasks to the government to see to it that recycling laws and incentives are in place, this they can effectively do by creating more awareness on the need of recycling in the general aim of gaining our environments state (Martin, Norbert, Eberhard, & Ernst, 2000). They should also create more recycling programs and incentives in their nations. When all this is done recycling will be embraced fully and our world will be a better place to live in. References Martin, M., Williams, I. D., & Clark, M. (2006). Social, cultural and structural influences on household waste recycling: A case study Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 48, No. 4, 357-395. Martin, P., Norbert, T., Eberhard, J., & Ernst, W. (2000). Recycling of plastics in Germany Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol.29, No. 1–2, 65-90. Schaik, M.A. (2004). Reuter The time-varying factors influencing the recycling rate of products Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 40, No.4, 301-328. Shaufique, F., Sidique, S. V., & Joshi, F. L. (2010). Factors influencing the rate of recycling: An analysis of Minnesota counties  Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 54, No. 4, 242-249. References Read More