The Problem of Wastes of Packaging and Recycling as a Method of Solution - Coursework Example

Recycling Recycling Solution Wastes of packaging such as polythene bags, plastics, cans are very dangerous to humanlife. For instance, assume that a given population stays near a dumping site, full of wastes of packaging and others forms of wastes (Grosse 3). You will realize that the air around that place will make everyone uncomfortable, and most probably, will cause certain illnesses such as cholera, malaria among other diseases. More often, packaging wastes accommodate rainwater, and with time, these waters form the breeding grounds for mosquitos. Nevertheless, in most places, many families tend to set fire on them (Grosse 6). It is notable that when burning packaging wastes such as polythene and plastic produces poisonous gasses that go into the atmosphere polluting the environment. The smoke from burning wastes and industries has been on the spot for causing global warming, a phenomenon that has led to the climatic changes in various parts of the world. We as a society do not want to further, contribute to the destruction of the environment. The small environmental pollutants collectively contribute to the pollution of the global environment (Grosse 9). Supporters of environmental conservation have argued that it every individual’s contribution to the environmental preservation and conservation is what will save the entire world. Therefore, the question as to how best we can dispose of wastes of a similar nature without causing more harm to the environment emerges at this point. Disposing packaging wastes in the dumping sites or rather in the dustbins is never a solution, but rather an accumulation of environmental problems (Grosse 11). It is good to understand that environmental conservation is not just an issue of proper disposal, but a matter of finding a sustainable and everlasting solution to the ever-emerging environmental pollution that comes with the disposal of wastes. Concerning packaging wastes, recycling is one of the most vital activities that help in providing a solution to the management of waste products. Currently, the world’s population has significantly grown to an extent that no single resource is adequate. People are fighting for the scarce resources that are available (Grosse 15). It is hence not amount resources, however small, should go to waste in the name of improper disposal, in the sense that the society can reuse them after a long time after usage. The underlying rationale for recycling is that the process allows the society to use the same resources over a relatively long period of depletion. Keeping this concept in mind, there will be a reduction of the pressure that people exert on the scarce resources. Recycling is the most sustainable form of environmental preservation and conservation. It discourages irresponsible dumping of non-decomposable wastes, by ensuring that reuse is continuous. For example, used plastics are recycled into other valuable plastic items, once the products of recycling are old beyond usage; they are again collected and recycled. The process is continuous in a pattern that is predictably endless. The implication of the recycling process is that there will be no moment that wastes of packaging shall be subject to improper disposal. Consequently, the society will be able to live in a healthy environment forever. It is within this context that, several studies has shown that recycling is the way to go for every society. Solution # 2 Recycling for the waste of packages is a means of ensuring that the few resources that we own are economically utilizable in a manner that does not pollute the environment (Kreiger 94). However, research has indicated that wastes, especially waste of packaging such as polythene bags, scrap, and plastics that often form a greater proportion of garbage in our cities have value. The government has the more significant role to play in the recycling of wastes though the responsibility for conserving the environment rests with every person. In most cases, some people are not aware of the value that wastes of packaging. In fact, if all wastes are recycled and the products resold, every country of the world would realize revenue that is equal to a significant proportion of its gross domestic product (Kreiger 93). Away from the responsibility of every person in the conservation of the environment, it is worth noting that wastes of packaging do not decompose once put on the soil. These wastes with time accumulate in the soil reducing soil productivity, thus, the necessity of their proper disposal and subsequent recycling into excellent products that the society will still appreciate. For example, polythene bags that are used for packaging of various products and transporting goods of different kinds and nature can still undergo recycling using advanced technology to produce similar products (Kreiger 90). On the other hand, scrap metals can still be recycled into metals that can still serve the various purpose that may include and limited to the manufacture of utensils such as pans, pangas, knives, and iron sheets. In addition, the post-consumer high-density polyethylene serves as raw material for 3-D Printing Filament (Kreiger 95). All that the government needs is to heavily, invest in advanced technology, by purchasing the necessary equipment solely for recycling and environmental conservation in entirety. The government should establish specific companies for recycling wastes of packages in strategic areas of the country to ensure that it adequately collect all wastes of packages from the public (Christian et al. 112). The government should establish strategic collection points all over the country and set the specific collection day of waste collection using its agents. Once these companies receive enough funding to start their activities, it is possible that the government can meet its objective of ensuring that it realizes proper recycling. As mentioned earlier, there are helpful products that come with the recycling of wastes of packages. As a result, the government, through its established recycling companies. This approach to environmental conservation is self-sustaining (Christian et al. 116). The recycling companies will recycle the wastes of packages, raw materials that they get free of charge, in making valuable items. The company then sells these items at a price. At the end of it all, the company will make profits from its sales, thus the funds so obtained will be used again in the process of recycling wastes from packages and other operating activities that are part of the process. The government can go further and buy used wastes of packages from the public, to ensure that every citizen is motivated to avail all wastes (Christian et al. 124). Otherwise, who will hesitate to sell used polythene, plastic, and scrap to the government? It is evident that the recycling of wastes of packaging that involves the use of advanced technology is vital in achieving a self-sustaining measure of conserving our environment as far as wastes of packaging are concerned. Solution # 3 The environmental conservation and preservation has suffered lapses majorly due to lack of awareness and sensitization. Many societal members still question the necessity for indiscriminate cutting of trees and improper the emerging concerns about improper disposal of wastes (United Nations Environmental Program 87). This manifests the extent to which the society needs enlightenment on the issues affecting the environment. Out of the enlightenment, every individual will be aware of measures that he should take to ensure the safety of the environment. The United Nations Environmental Program has released guidelines on strategies of national waste management, whose main theme is “Moving from Challenges to Opportunities.” The efforts of this campaign have seen governments take the role of creating awareness on the importance of conserving the environment. However, there are still more gaps in the campaign for environmental conservation. The government and environmental bodies can achieve awareness and sensitization of environmental protection in several ways. For example, the print media, televisions, billboards, are among the platforms that the concerned parties can use to send the message of good will (United Nations Environmental Program 121). The social media platform that the modern population has dominated serves as an accurate target. If the environmental bodies can use these platforms, we can realize tremendous achievements in terms of awareness. To bring the knowledge to play, there is need to provide the citizens especially in major cities and towns with recycling trashcans where they can drop the wastes of packaging for recycling. The provision of recycling trashcans will encourage environmentally friendly behavior among the citizens, and the practice will extend to the suburbs over time (United Nations Environmental Program 123). The society will learn to view the wastes of packaging as an opportunity rather than a challenge. In addition, the society will adopt the environmentally friendly practices of proper disposal of wastes before recycling. The best means of spreading the awareness and sensitization on environmental conservation and preservation is through education. Governments across the world must start the journey of rising a new generation that is fully conscious of their environment (Brown 45). The generation will grow while fully aware of the importance of conserving the environment and the problems that come with environmental degradation. Education shall equip the new generation with the relevant environmental skills and understanding. This idea does not imply that the current generation cannot get the education on similar skills. For example, colleges should establish recycling and environmental conservation as a common unit for all students (Brown 75). In addition, teachers should encourage engineering students to take their time in analyzing technological advancements that would advance recycling of wastes of packaging in future, and other environmental conservation techniques that are necessary for the fight against environmental degradation due to improper disposal of packaging wastes to be a success. Recycling of wastes of packaging is one of the most self-sustaining methods of environmental conservation. Technological advancements also point towards recycling since the mechanization is available in various versions, and there are still chances that the technology will improve for the better (Brown 87). Thus, the achievement of a clean environment shall happen on that day when the whole society shall realize the importance of environmental conservation. The environmental dream shall ease if the governments employ proper channels such as education, and advertisements in its bid to create awareness and sensitization on environmental protection. References Baird, Colin. Environmental Chemistry (3rd Ed.) W. H. Freeman Publishers, 2003. Print. Brown, M. T.; Buranakarn, V. "Energy indices and ratios for sustainable material cycles and recycle options.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling 38 (1): 2003, 1–22. Christian Baechler, Matthew DeVuono, and Joshua M. Pearce, "Distributed Recycling of Waste Polymer into RepRap Feedstock" Rapid Prototyping Journal, 19(2), pp. 118-125 (2013). Grosse, F. "Is recycling part of the solution? The role of recycling in an expanding society and a world of finite resources". S.A.P.I.E.N.S. 3 (1): 2010, 1–17. Kreiger, M; Mulder, L.; Glover, G.; Pearce, M. ‘Life Cycle Analysis of Distributed Recycling of Post-consumer High Density Polyethylene for 3-D Printing Filament.’ Journal of Cleaner Production, 70, pp. 90–96 (2014). United Nations Environmental Program. "Guidelines for National Waste Management Strategies Moving from Challenges to Opportunities” New York: UNEP, 2013. Print Read More