Strategies for a Successful Relationship - Research Paper Example

? Strategies for a Successful Relationship For a layman, in simple words, the third law of entropy stands for the explanation ofthe universal phenomenon of complexity. It states that things move from simplicity to complexity, and today a stupendous complexity can be seen. From Darwin’s theory about existence of man to usable products, this phenomenon of complexity generation stands true everywhere around us. Only in New York, there are around two million commodities that are a complex, conglomerate, amalgamation, alloy, or a hybrid of multiple constituent elements. From plastic products to glass, and chemicals such as medicine or paints, a complex of compounds, ceramics and mixtures are today an integrated part of our lives. This paper is not only about describing these commodities and products but also addresses their extraction, usage, re-usage and potential effects on our environment. Quintessentially, this paper on environmental studies discusses modern debate on waste reduction with special emphasis on recycling. In environmental sciences, containing waste hierarchy is defined as the cyclic process of reduction, reuse and recycling of waste material into new products. The potential threats and problems with waste material around us are humongous and cannot be left unaccounted for. Why Recycling? Recycling is a method through which man has enabled himself to live longer in its ambiance. It has empowered him to be cognizant of what potential harm his environment can bear without recycling. It is, therefore, desired to keep the lavishing with some audit and redressing mechanisms. For the sake of environment and human life on earth, the human intellect has been able to define the reduction, reuse and recycling process in its journey towards better living. The first basic “why” is discussed as we move on with this research. A mix of concerns and benefits can be categorized with the following remarks. Loss of useful contents such as advanced chemical compounds, expensive-to-manufacture contents of a material and other such important elements is one of the main outcomes of recycling. In addition to this primary outcome, a highly concerned matter of reduction in the use of important and depleting fresh raw material is also addressed with the help of recycling. Energy related woos are also somewhat satiated. But the real concern for the environmentalists is the issue of pollution and green house emissions. Scientists have extrapolated the situation to cost humanity 25% of the world population by AD 2100 if the relentless waste and indifferent attitude towards emissions remains unabated. Those nations that have paid heed to this problem, such as UK, have been able to dedicate their energies in this regard. In 2006–2007 UK was able to recycle 26% of its domestic wastes (FOE, 2008). Pollution and environmental degradation have embarked towards a hodgepodge of potential threats through different routes. One such route is air pollution. It has caused a great deal of trouble to the global climate. Greenhouse emissions have emerged as detrimental as any natural calamity but on a fairly larger scale. The continuous rise in temperature extremities has rendered many areas no more habitable. Further health concerns due to polluted air, such as breathing problems, are endemic in many industrial areas. Another route that pollution has opted for staking man’s life is water pollution. Neonates and others die within days due to a complex nature of pollutants in their drinking water. Terminally ill patients in underdeveloped nations are mainly victims of unclean water. The high morbidity spreads through water usage in these areas. These nations are concerned, but wastes have gained a huge momentum that needs a proper solution to address these detrimental situations. Therefore, a collective effort to understand and implement the solution to wastes is underway. Recycling has now gained huge importance in the wake of continuously deteriorating environmental conditions. Recycling: What and How? Recycling, in the simplest terms, can be understood as the production of fresh supply of same material. The material can be glass, steel, any type of alloy or paper, etc. This is actually physical and chemical processing of materials under set conditions and scientific parameters. Use of knowledge of the production mechanism of a material is actually a cue in recycling of that specific material. In most cases recycling is exercised in technologically developed countries or in economically healthy nations. This is because the processing of materials is expensive and requires skilled labor and engineering techniques. Recycling has two main forms. One form is reuse of a material in producing the same or any other related material, whereas another type involves extraction of certain materials from complex products because of their intrinsic value. The first type can be understood with the example of recycling of glass bottles or coke cans. The second type involves recycling of elements or intrinsic compounds such as lead compounds in car batteries. The latter form of recycling is quite expensive and involves a high level of engineering tools, skills and advancement. At this point a comparison of the above stated forms and concerns should be discussed in order to understand viability of the process of recycling. The intrinsic type of recycling involves a high cost of processing and production. Many critics are concerned about thinning economic conditions in the wake of global economic crisis. Affordability of such environment related works may need a huge chunk of profits in already cash starved companies and organizations. On the cost of environment this process can, indeed, not be left relentless. It has a potential to render mankind living in more difficult environmental conditions in the long run. Further leaving such material not recycled will deplete invaluable natural resources and raw material down the road. In spite of the disposition and indifference of such critics, environmentalists have been able to bring the world around the importance of recycling. Its importance has been rekindled in the wake of current global warming concerns. The process not only helps in reducing fresh use of new raw material but also helps in addressing the energy requirements during the first time production. Leaving plastics and other such materials in the open air is also a matter of concern for the environmentalists. Burning, contamination and mixing of such wastes in water, air and even edible products has taken many lives. The process of recycling actually filters the environment and restores its earlier condition. How recycling process is initiated and what the stages of recycling are is also a part of understanding this topic. It is now clear that recycling is carried out to restore our environment to somewhat early stage. It not only buys us time but also helps in purging out extremely detrimental materials out of our environment. So now, the initiation of recycling in a specific setting or area needs to be understood. Recycling has been categorized as recycling of consumer and industrial wastes. The consumer wastes are generally easy to be handled. Their sorting is difficult due to a mesh of consumer products, but still they are easy and low in cost as far as recycling is concerned. The latter category of industrial wastes is a mix of different materials, and in fact they are the real challenge to the environment. The produce of industry is highly dangerous chemicals and their wastes are very complex and costly to be processed. Therefore, generally it is seen that the government mandate in different parts of the world is being defied on this issue. The government support remains unheard because of the indifferent attitude of industrialists. Recycling is carried out on different levels: in schools, homes and even in factories; everyone in his or her capacity can initiate the process of recycling. Media and awareness moots are helping in this regard by making people cognizant of its importance. At home products such as glass or ceramic containers can be used for miniature plantations and decoration. Similarly, glass materials and their pieces can be used for glass paintings and style decorations. However, this is a sort of petty salvaging. Its need in the wake of mammoth industrial and non-recycled consumer wastes diminishes. Awareness and government pressure through its mandate can mobilize many under a set of rules and restrictions. Energy Related Concerns Energy in the production of materials involves raw material processing, and sometimes this processing involves a huge amount of energy. It is, therefore, desired to save cost of energy and increase profit in the production. To save this cost and energy, along with usage of fresh raw material, already used material can be resorted to as an option. In fact, the amount of energy required depends upon the material that is going to be produced and that which will be recycled. To gauge the efficiency of such processing, a formula for analysis is usually employed. This formula actually tells about the viability, cost effectiveness and energy benefit in the recycling of that specific material. This analysis technique is known as EMERGY. As dependency of recycling profitability mainly circles around the type of material that subjected to the processing, it is, therefore, desirable, first, to understand this analytical approach. It not only helps in finding a better solution for the reuse of the material but also helps in increasing the profit through recycling. Generally, when materials concentrate and become complex, they transform into a more refined product. This requires chemically stable compounds which have high endurance and resistance to environmental degradation. This is actually an aim in designing or manufacturing of the product. A simple example can be stated from the difference of plastic material used in laptops in early 2000 and now. Thus, the parameter of EMERGY (M instead of N) defines the extraction complexity in these products as far as their production and recycling energy consumption is concerned (Brown & Buranakarn, 2002). Types of Industrial and Consumer Wastes Although there are a lot of types in addition to already discussed wastes in our environment, a few of them that are a real challenge to the environment need to be discussed. The recycling process has been able to contain plastic and related materials that are a major source of environmental degradation. The scrap or waste of plastics is usually burned, which can cause severe air pollution. To help this situation, plastic recycling plants are being set up in many areas on war footing. Plastic is used in pens to laptops, which has revolutionized the mass production domain of the industry. With this advancement, concerns relating to its disposal have emerged and thus have cost huge environmental degradation. Fuel oil and other lubricating materials such as mobile oil and mixed plastic materials have also been subjected to scrutiny by the environmentalists. The disposal is not only difficult but also requires a great deal of technical complexities in the recycling of such materials. Glass and tin cans are processed due to the ease of their sorting and recycling (Types of municipal solid waste processing, n.d.). Criticism Industries and other mass production companies find it difficult to dispose of waste material. They argue that the cost inflicts them extra burden lowering their profit margin. In addition, recruitment of recycling plants, land acquisition and processing setup causes a huge amount of investment. To hide these intentions, these industries are not complying with the environmental obligations of preserving the environment. For such industries, different types of local and international sanctions can help in containing this relentless menace. Further, there is another group that thinks that global warming and such concerns are just a negligible process and cannot be made an obligation to the business. Also, they are of the view that the resources used by recycling are more than the original resource consumption (Waste management resources, n.d.). Globalization has its antagonists lying in the same category. Thus it is important to forge a common declaration on the moot. Conclusion and Future Work Technological advancements have enabled man with methods and scientific ways to curtail the menace of waste production and retention. Co-existence of man with these terminally dangerous materials in our environment is simple uncalled for and also not desired. To make our ambiance more suitable to host healthy life, recycling is as important as production of materials of daily use. Industries have been the main contributor of these problems and a binding on them needs to be established and maintained. This will help in boosting the recycling technique that is helpful in keeping the environment clean and stopping the unrestrained use of raw materials before their depletion. References Brown, M. T., & Buranakarn, V. (2002). Emergy indices and ratios for sustainable material cycles and recycle options (pp. 2–4). Retrieved from: http://www.thaiscience.info/Article%20for%20ThaiScience/Article/4/Ts-4%20emergy%20indices%20and%20ratios%20for%20sustainable%20material%20cycles%20and%20recycle%20options.pdf. FOE. (2008). Friends of earth, recycling: Why it’s important and how to do it (pp. 2–3). Retrieved from: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/recycling.pdf. Types of municipal solid waste processing and disposal facilities, and wastes that may be accepted, main site and individual categories of wastes. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/waste_permits/msw_permits/msw_types.html. Waste management resources. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.wrfound.org.uk/articles/recycling.html. Read More