The Nature of Recycling - Research Paper Example

Recycling The purpose of this research is into survey a sample of the body at a small, Midwestern college todetermine their view on recycling. Students were given the opportunity to really share personal information such as political identification and opinion on the topic of recycling. The data were then reviewed and pattern noted. The following paper specifically analyzes survey data regarding student's social activities and their views about recycling. Problem Statement Globally recycling has taken a complete different level of understanding and implementation especially in the educational sector. Integrating recycling into K-12 educational system has become a goal for many educators. Usually it is integrated into science or social studies classrooms. This is due to its inclusion in the national education standards for both of these subject areas. Common areas that recycling is integrated into the curriculum include areas such as the study of natural resources, general environmental units, soil units, water units, community units, economic units, and geography units. Although interest is growing, major textbook publishers do not always include recycling in a textbook so teachers are left to supplement the textbooks with outside curriculum to meet the national standards. For example, in a unit about trees or natural resources teachers could include supplemental curriculum about recycling because in the textbook it is never explicitly covered. Non-profit organizations as well as governmental organizations have created supplemental curriculum for teachers to fill this void. Literature Review Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land filling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" waste hierarchy. Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and electronics. Although similar in effect, the composting or other reuse of biodegradable waste - such as food or garden waste - is not typically considered recycling. Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing. Most people don't think twice about what they put in the garbage. The average American produces from 3-5 pounds of trash per day, which adds up to 50 tons per year. That means over 200 million tons of trash are produced by everyone in the U.S. every year! Up to 70% of this trash is buried in landfills. The scary thing about this is that even though landfills are getting tons of new trash every day, more and more are closing down because they are too expensive to maintain. This is becoming a widespread problem across the U.S. as states struggle to find alternative ways to reduce the amount of trash accumulation. Only about one-tenth of U.S. garbage actually gets recycled every year, when in reality over half of it can be recycled into new products. Recycling is one of the most important acts to follow in our daily lives because it can reduce the amount of waste in our landfills, sustain our natural resources and provide better air and water quality. On average, each person throws away eight dry-cell batteries each year. A dry cell battery is the type of batter used to power small household items like clocks and radios. Double and triple A batteries, C, D, and 9-vot batteries are all dry-cell batteries. Batteries are powered by heavy metals that interact with chemicals, so simply discarding batteries can cause a horrible impact on the environment, especially when old batteries leak and mixed with rain water pollute the soil and into drinking water systems. The invention of rechargeable batteries significantly helps in this scenario, by making it simple for the average person to do their own battery recycling right from home. Non-rechargeable dry-cell batteries should still be recycled in appropriate ways however, and local drop sites should be found for these items. Lead-acid batteries are broken down into two groups automotive, and non-automotive. Most lead-acid batteries are made from between sixty and eighty percent already recycled parts, and its estimated that on average ninety percent of automotive lead-acid batteries are recycled. Lead-acid batteries of the non-automotive type are commonly used in powering machines, alarms, and emergency lighting. These batteries are less commonly recycled, but can be dropped off at most automotive stores or waste agencies which partake in battery recycling. Zero Waste is a design principle for the 21st Century that seeks to redesign the way resources and materials flow through society. Zero Waste requires eliminating subsidies for raw material extraction and waste disposal, and holding producers responsible for their products and packaging 'from cradle to cradle.' The goal is to promote clean production, prevent pollution, and create communities in which all products are designed to be cycled safely back into the economy or environment. Recycling includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials such as fibers, manufacturing raw materials into new products, and purchasing recycled products. Collecting and processing secondary materials, manufacturing recycled-content products, and then buying recycled products creates a circle or loop that ensures the overall success and value of recycling. Collecting recyclables varies from community to community, but there are four primary methods: curbside, drop-off centers, buy-back centers, and deposit/refund programs. Regardless of the method used to collect the recyclables, the next leg of their journey is usually the same. Recyclables are sent to a materials recovery facility to be sorted and prepared into marketable commodities for manufacturing. Recyclables are bought and sold just like any other commodity, and prices for the materials change and fluctuate with the market. Once cleaned and separated, the recyclables are ready to undergo the second part of the recycling loop. More and more of today's products are being manufactured with total or partial recycled content. Common household items that contain recycled materials include newspapers and paper towels; aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers; steel cans; and plastic laundry detergent bottles. Recycled materials also are used in innovative applications such as recovered glass in roadway asphalt (glassphalt) or recovered plastic in carpeting, park benches, and pedestrian bridges. Purchasing recycled products completes the recycling loop. By "buying recycled," governments, as well as businesses and individual consumers, each play an important role in making the recycling process a success. As consumers demand more environmentally sound products, manufacturers will continue to meet that demand by producing high-quality recycled products. Learn more about recycling terminology and to find tips on identifying recycled products. An engineering consultancy company known as G-Force is working on oil-waste alternatives and waste management. G-force, servicing the Marine (ships & ports) industry and the oilfield sectors of Drilling, Production and Refinery operations for the purposes of design, manufacture, installation & operation of custom or standard build separation systems for treatment of oily waste and slop oil. G-force Oily Waste Separation Systems provide benefit to clients seeking an environmentally sound Waste Management Program. This is to comply with the standard practices of the Environmental 3R's - Reduce, Recycle, Re-use. G-force treated oily waste is: Reduced (minimized) to solids by removal of liquids, Recycling of Oil and Water, and Re-use of oil as a product with water returned to nature. G-force therefore, sells, manufactures, installs and operates treatment systems required in the Marine industry and the Oil & Gas Industry to clean oily waste generated as a by-product of their operations. Hypothesis There is a significant correlation between an individual's waste management views and his/her stance on recycling. People who hold conservative views are more likely to disapprove of recycling. Persons who have liberal, environmental ideologies are more likely to approve of recycling and its by-products. People with "middle-of-the-road" ideologies are more likely to approve of recycling in some circumstances and disapprove of it in other. The independent variable is the environmental identity of each individual. The dependent variable is the individual's response toward recycling. The assumption is that the independent variable affects the dependent variable. In order to shed more light on this matter and get more inside information, I conducted a survey comprising of a questionnaire. It was floated around many inner city high schools, colleges and university and responses from students of varies ethnic, religious and social back grounds were recorded. As, we are discussing recycling in the United States and around the globe as our hypothesis, thus it was only justified that the youth of the nations be interviewed. Research design Survey was used to collect data on recycling. The advantages of this research method include its time efficiency, cost efficiency, and ability to examine a wide range of subjects. Survey study a representative sample of the population in a relatively small amount of time (Tischler, 2000). People are asked direct question and given the opportunity to respond in short answers. However, the answers received from the population are not always accurate. People may not be truthful in their responses if they are uncomfortable with the questions or feel threatened by them. Also, if the respondents misinterpret a question's meaning, their answers may not be accurate reflections of what they really think or believe. Consequently, the result will be asked. Researchers must organize the potential for error in a survey (Tischler, 63). Sampling and data collection The target for study was the student body of a small, Midwestern college. The sample of the subject drawn from the population at this college include 478 students. Of the 478 respondents, 273 were males and 241 were females, the total number consisted of 143 freshman, 143 sophomore, 101 junior, and 91 senior. Participant ranged from 17 years of age to 24 years of age. The population size was small enough to monitor for results and significant patterns. The survey were distributed to specific individuals in an attempt to gather data from an equal number of first, second, third, and fourth year students as well as an equal number of male and female students. Though the final sample of students did not match the original outline for the sample, the sample obtained is still valid for study. Data analysis The data analysis reflects upon the response students gave for different questions. A random 10 responses based analysis is given here. What according to your knowledge is recycling More than 50% of the students replied, "Re-using/processing item we have no further use for, so as to create either something new or the same product." 10-20% replied, "For me it's the reuse of already manufactured goods. This can be done either by reusing things in their current form or by processing them to form some raw material to remanufacture them in another form." The remaining 30-40% more or less had views along the same mental frequency. Explain the adverse effects on society and environment if recycling is not implemented. This got mixed response, 10-15% said, "Huge waste sites, scarcity of resource further worsened, potential of new jobs (in recycling plants), toxicity levels on the rise : direct hazard to humans and environment as a whole.", 20% were of the opinion. "Exhaustion of energy and energy producing resources, substantial increase in pollution. Increase of natural hazards such as floods, and increase in industrial wastage leading to a serious hazard to the natural habitat and humans." one unique response was, "The animated film WALL-E portrayed the adverse effects on both environment and society very well. It would all end up with huge piles of junk everywhere! The remaining percentage of students said, "Well, if you don't recycle paper, more trees will be cut down and same goes for glass, which is by the way easier to re-use than manufacture. Things that aren't recycled would go in landfills or would be dumped into oceans. Landfills can pollute water and leak methane gas into the atmosphere. You wouldn't want that. So now you surely know how it can affect our society and environment if recycling is not implemented." Elaborate on different ways of recycling in your surroundings. 20% said, "Anything and everything can be recycled right from paper, textiles, plastic, metal and even electronics. The most commonly recycled materials are glass, paper and plastic." 30% said, "The idea of recycling isn't very common locally. We do our bit by giving old newspapers etc." the remaining % said, "Sorry can't comment as I don't see any efforts being done." What benefits can our future generations reap of recycled products 50% replied, "A healthier cleaner environment and a good system in place to recycle waste and discarded products." How are you in your own capacity contributing to a greener environment This question stirred different responses, 10-15% said, "5. Well, it depends on what we make of it, I mean we can start with a very small example to just cut the plastic bottle from the middle and there you have you're very own plant pot or maybe you're pencil holder." 20% said, "Not much. We just make sue we never litter around. I'd love to recycle if the facilities were available here." the rest were along the lines, "6. Honestly, I am not. Recycling is way too much work, I guess once in awhile I will recycle bottles of pop. I also don't really care about a greener environment because I probably won't be alive when the harsher effects of global warming occur." Apart from recycling, what more reforms should be there to prevent environment erosion 30% said, "Extreme affects on environment are not due to house hold waste, it is because of huge industries and due to endless wars. These two have to checked and controlled if we seriously want to prevent environment erosion." 50-60% replied, "No idea.", "Finding a substitute for oil.", "Conservation of natural resources, planting more trees and proper ways to dispose of all kinds of wastage." Give ideas for future references as to what more can be done to prevent environmental hazards. 15% said, "Resources are not abundant so save every bit of resources as one can. Use products till they can't be used any longer. Invest in proper recycling institutions so that the wastage can be put to good use", 25% said, "A policy which I think is already there should be enforced to make all industries environment friendly", 20% replied, "The people in the major cities of any country are well educated with the fact that they have to throw litter in the bin and prevent pollution, in the future we would like to see the people from the rural places to do any bit that they can to prevent pollution, they create a mess when they go to big cities, they really need to be educated in this matter, and the government has to play a vital role in this matter, so that in future all of the people breath a clean air and our children live better lives" one head turner of a response was, "I saw a documentary of a Japanese industrial city (forgot the name of the city) that from being rated the worst environmentally friendly city in just a few years took drastic measures that is now one of the most beautiful towns Japan all through recycling (even recycled used cooking oils at home to create soap)". Conclusion After going through the survey ballots, one thing was evident; our youth is not fully aware of the gravity of the situation. Many of the students, who do not have a pre-medical or pre-engineering background, can not fully comprehend the need for recycling and are not fully adhering to the need for recycling. The main reason I floated the questionnaire globally was to get mixed and diverse responses. Give and take a few people, who are from environment hazard aware countries or countries which are or have been effected adversely by pollution and other waste related problems, are making an effort towards the solution of the problem. They are finding alternatives, recycling as much as they can, doing their own bit in every capacity possible. On the other hand, people from under developed countries or third world countries, due to their lack of awareness of the issue and massive social inertia aka lack of interest, are adding to the problem rather than being a solution to it. Recycling is a process for our future generations. Recycle now and save your future. Companies like Apple and Dell are even adopting recycling approaches in their technology manufacture. Wake up! Stand tall and make a difference for a better, greener and healthier future. The following are the most common sources used in this paper, Recycling: www.apple.com , A Greener Apple, Apple Inc., 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, 408-996-1010, Web, Feb 2010. www.dell.com, Dell Recycling, Web, Feb 2010. www.epa.gov , Recycle City, Tuesday, June 9th, 2009, Web, Feb 2010. www.greenearthrecycling.com , Green Earth Recycling, Heyr, 12 km Bedian Road, Lahore, Web, Feb 2010. www.grn.com , Global Recycling Network, Web, Feb 2010. Read More