Recycling as a Partial Solution to the Amount of Solid Waste - Essay Example

Critical thinking paper on recycling as a partial solution to the amount of solid waste we send to landfills Introduction Waste is a combination of trash of all cities semisolid and solid waste. Solid wastes are mainly garbage which is produced from businesses, home and some industrial sources. It also contains some industrial and commercial waste but with the exception of hazardous waste from industrial sources which can cause harm to environmental health. Solid wastes are mainly sent to landfill because it is the most cost effective and cheapest method for disposal of waste. Almost 100 percent of the waste generated from low to medium developing nations goes to landfills. Even most of the wastes from developed countries aredisposed of to landfills. Recycling is the partial solution to reduce the amount of waste disposed as it can reduce three-quarter of waste. This essay will discuss about the methodical ways and the possibilities of optimum use of solid waste by implementation of recycling procedure. Discussion Wastes that are disposed to landfills comprises of different types of materials. Disposed materials include paper, organic, metal, timber, plastic and hazardous substances. The amount of waste disposed gives the indication of usage of natural resources by human beings. The large amount of wastes on landfills can pollute the environment and it can also be expensive to operate. Although in future the proportion of amount of solid waste disposed may be reducing but the total volume of wastes that are produced from municipal solid waste are increasing significantly. For many developed countries, more than 3 percent per annum of total volume of wastes are increasing. Survey states that, each year in United States more than 10 billion tons of wastes is generated.Each year, both in commercial and domestic sector more than 704 thousand tons of packaging waste is created and disposed. Only 17.4 percent of garbage or solid waste is being recycled and remaining wastes is send to landfills. The quality of waste disposed from industrial is relatively small than that of the major sources. But the environmental consequence of industrial waste is very high. The environmental problem of municipal waste costs billion dollars every year. Every day from other sources and home large number of hazardous and toxic materials are dumped to the landfills. This toxic garbage may include corrosive cleaning agents, poisons unused drugs, disinfectants and solvents. Solvents includes pesticides, insecticides, paint thinner, heavy metals, etc. This small amount of toxic materials can degrade nearby water, air and soils (Douglas, 1992). The reduction of solid waste is vital for any nations as it can help to reduce the expenses. The prevention of wastes that are generated can not only help to reduce disposal costs but also loss of valuable resources. Some hidden costs that can cost operation money are loss of floor space, loss of revenue generated for not being recycled, poor public image and degradation of guest amenity. The removal of waste can help to reduce these costs. Recycling is the best partial solution that can help to reduce disposal costs and it can also possibly help to generate some revenue. This can also help to contribute to the charitable causes.Exponents of recycling are it can help to reduce air, save energy, reduces mining of raw materials, reduces harmful pollutants and finally reduces the waste stream that are disposed to the landfills. For example, from recycled aluminum about 90% of less energy is required to produce aluminum than that of from ore. Therefore it proves that, 1665 gallons of gasoline that produces specific energy but this energy produced is less than that of recycled 1 ton of aluminum cans. And from recycled paper about 7% of less energy is required to make paper than that of from trees (Gottinger, 1998). Recycling can save large number of trees. 18 trees can be saved from 1 ton of recycled newspaper. Steel is made for less than 75% of energy from scrap. Recycling can help to divert over 5 million tons of materials that are disposed to landfills.Only 20 percent of solid waste are been recycles in United States. But in countries like Netherlands and Switzerland 75 percent of wastes are been recycled. There are certain steps of recycling. First is to collect and sort out the discarded materials by notifying their types. Next step is to take the sorted out materials in to the recycling facility. Third step is to clean the discarded materials and then crushed. Finally reusing the discarded materials to produce and manufacture new recycled products (Ebreo, 1999). For example paper is sorted out regarding on their type and then it is made in to pulp. And in case of glass it is sorted out by differentiating on colors and then crushed. Demand of the new manufactured projects can be increased if more people buy these products. When demand increases then it automatically grabs the attraction of manufacturer and encouragesbuilding new facilities to manufacture recycled products.New facilities that are built can eventually help communities to sell materials that are collected for recycling. Each year 193 million metric tons of carbon dioxide can be reduced by recycling. Successful implementation of recycling can be initiated by some additional ideas. Providing clear signs and labels for waste bins such as paper, glass, etc. locations the bins where solid wastes are generated. Training is provided to the staffs on recycling. For some places if it is possible then provide general waste bin which can help to reduce the probability of recycling. Provider of license waste service is contracted. It should be ensured that the recycled wastes are completely are dealt by downstream recycling facilities (Oliveira, 2007). It should also be confirmed that the technical capabilities is absolutely appropriate for waste types. Finally specifying the products that are been recycled and then packaged. Operate with the waste service providers and suppliers to find out new opportunities for recycling. Some important benefits of recycling that can help to reduce amount of waste that are sent to landfills. Recycling can help to create jobs. It has been stated by EPA that 10,000 tons of products that are generated from recycling can create 36 jobs. Utilization of recycled products can help to generate industries. Recycling can be a cost effective disposal option. It can help to protect the environment and natural resources. Garbage and solid wastes are increasing day by day. So there should be way to reduce it instead of solid wastes going to landfills. The amount of products recycled in United States is in small percentage (Firoucci, 2003). The percentage of recycling should be increased as it not only helps to sell recycled products but also reduces expenses. The Environmental Protection Agency has included some strategies that can help to reduce wastes. Reducing the amount of waste that been generated. As many of refuse possible is been recycled. Wastes are transformed so that it can be environment friendly. Finally, continuing to dispose reduced wastes to landfills. Conclusion Therefore, it can be concluded that recycling is the partial solution that can help to reduce the amount of solid wastes that are disposed to landfills. The amount of solid wastes that are been disposed to landfills are increasing day by day. The ineffective disposal of solid wastes to landfills can affect the environment and eventually can pose threat to the human health. Citizens of the countries know that there is no way to get rid of garbage. Current disposal methods of solid waste can pose threat to safety of environment and health. Recycling process can help to reduce all treats and expenses. The method of recycling may take some time to be fully adopted by all countries but the benefits of recycling of reducing wastes and conserving resources cannot be ignored. References Douglas, J. (1992). “Process Synthesis for Waste Minimization”. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 12(1), 13-15. Ebreo, A. (1999). “Reducing Solid Waste Linking Recycling to Environmentally Responsible Consumerism”. Journal of Environmental Science and Behaviour, 56(7), 7. Firoucci, P. (2003). “Solid waste management in urban areas: development and application of a decision support system”. Journal of Conservation and Recycling, 43(3), 27. Gottinger, H. (1998). “A Computation Model for Solid Waste Management with Application”. European Journal of Operational Research, 24(2), 19. Oliveira, E. (2007). “A decision support system for the operational planning of solid waste collection”. Journal of Waste Management, 17(1), 34. Read More