According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2013, Americans generated about 254 million tons of trash and recycled about 87 million tons, equivalent to a 34.3 % recycling rate. On average, we recycled and composted 1.51 pounds of our individual waste generation of 4.40 pounds per person per day (EPA). And even so some might argue the cost effectiveness of recycling I find this EPA statistic along with the obvious alleviation on global warming and all its effects reason enough to take a closer look at our recycling mentality. Waste prevention is possible in every life situation: in the home, at the office or at work, at school or on the road yet we are reluctant to engage in recycling and therefore waste reduction. We need to avoid waste instead of causing it.
Taken the ecological benefit of recycling through the reduction of air- and water pollution and also greenhouse gas emissions, some might ask if recycling is economically worthwhile. Building new, more effective, recycling plants to process reusable products and upgrading existing waste processing facilities involves high initial costs and creates more pollution. John Tierney, a journalist for the New York Times, points out in his article “The Reign of Recycling,” recycling is not always cost effective and is an increasingly expensive way to produce materials and therefore the environmental benefits diminish. He also points out that the net cost of recycling by far outweighs the costs of simply dumping the
Do you know that many americans do not know how important recycling is? In the article “Importance of Recycling” by Rinkesh he says, “Recycling is important in today’s world if we want to leave this planet for our future generations.” This statement explains how many americans do not know how important recycling is to keep this planet and many more generations going. Many people do not know the different ways recycling helps out our enviroment. Personally, recycling is important for the environment, which is why I decide participate in it and recycle at home. I like to recycle cans and bottles. In my opinion, there are many factors as to why the environment needs recycling, but to shorten the process I came up with three major needs as to why
Recycling and conservation are the solution to climate change and to saving energy. America sends a majority of its trash to landfills when it could be put to much better use by means of recycling or even by burning it to produce energy. Pollution is greatly reduced when recycling because the need to collect new raw materials goes down. Recycling is great because it can help people conserve this Earth for future generations who deserve to have a healthy Earth. Once the United Stated reaches recycling levels of 75%, it would be the equivalent of getting rid of fifty five million cars from the roads in the U.S. each year.
Recycling has been the environmental crusade to reducing the human footprint, with it’s spotlight shining down on in recent years. It was the noblest of causes, recycling being a great idea for the environment and society; but it is being handled poorly. Its modern descendant has turned into a corporate scheme with recycling becoming a business, instead of being about the environment because marketers are using environmentalism as a excuse for overconsumption, recycling products are only being recycled for profit, and cities & big business use inflated numbers to attain media attention. Let’s now take a look at the bread and butter of
Recycling is the process of making new products from a product that has originally served its purpose. The process of recycling starts when used products are disposed in an appropriate, environmentally friendly way. Items made from materials such as paper, tin cans, aluminum cans, plastic water bottles, and glass, which people use in everyday life, can be separated from regular trash and put in an appropriate recycling bin. The United States now realizes the importance of recycling. However, many ignorant people still think separating recyclables requires too much work. Requiring mandatory recycling would prod these individuals into action. Lack of recycling leads to dramatic consequences such as polluting the environment and raising the number of landfills. Delay is critical; time plays a significant role in waste management. The sooner American communities recycle properly the better it will be for the environment and our surroundings. People need to become conscious and take responsibility as a society to protect the earth, keep it clean and beautiful, and preserve the natural resources. The United States can achieve this goal by implementing mandatory recycling.
Recycling is presently one of the most controversial topics, considering that while most individuals put across their support regarding the act the number of individuals who actually do something in order to recycle is much smaller. Many people are currently unable or unwilling to recycle properly because the process often requires a series of changes in one's life. It is thus essential for the authorities to provide educational programs meant to assist individuals in understanding why recycling is important and in learning how to recycle effectively. People need to accept the fact that the benefits of recycling will reflect on the future and that conditions are currently critical as a result of the fact that the masses are generally unacquainted with the importance of this process.
Landfills are filling up with more and more trash every day and are expanding. Just by separating our trash everyday into plastics, cardboard/paper, cans, etc., we can minimize what we put in the landfills. Even if recycling was mandatory, I think this would help a lot. I spent some time in Germany and was able to participate in recycling more in depth. They recycle almost everything and have strict trash rules. Food that was not consumed goes in one small bin and cans, boxes, paper, etc., were sorted into separate bins as well. If you had something that was not in the proper bin or if your trash bag had something that could be recycled they do not take the trash that day. Some of the food that was not consumed was buried, the cardboard/paper, etc., was sent out to be recycled and reused. All of this helps keep Germany green and clean. Maybe we should follow in Germany’s footsteps to help keep our landfills clean of items that can be recycled and used again. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in 2006, only 32% of the trash that was picked up was recycled in the United States. This leaves 68% of trash that is still going to the landfills and not being recycled. Although this recycling average is low, The Environmental Protection Agency hoped by 2019 the recycle percentage would reach 75%. The amount of trash that one person generates is astonishing. According to the EPA from Green Waste, in a single day 4.5 pounds is thrown out, which is about 1.5 tons of solid waste a year per person. The EPA estimates that 75% of solid waste is recyclable, but 30% is actually being
America currently has a growing population of over 300 million people. Every day the average American produced 4.4 pounds of garbage. As a nation Americans produced over 200 million tons of waste in 2013. Only 34.4 percent of that waste was recovered. Over 65 percent of that garbage is left to rot and pollute the environment. Many other countries face the same epidemic. There are many ways Americans can reduce pollution and keep our planet cleaner, one for those ways for instance is recycling. Recycling defined is to treat or process used or waste materials, to make suitable for reuse. The process starts by knowing what to recycle and how. Understanding the effects and benefits of reprocessing can persuade people to make
1) Are you aware of the amount of waste you create each day? I do not believe anyone is completely aware of the amount of waste they generate on a daily basis. It is such a natural action – throw something in the trash – that it is automatic and done without much or any consideration as to where it goes, where it came from, or where will it ultimately go or become. I do recycle and compost when possible, but that too becomes a process that sometime appears moot because products are being made from materials that do not qualify or require special centers for recycling.1 We have become a “use it and throw it away” society.
Americans have yet to face the unnerving reality of the fact that “in 2008 only 7.1% of the 30.05 million tons of plastic waste in America was recycled” (Linn). This low percentage is shocking, outrageous, and should terrify the American public, but this number can change. Recycling is not just a feel good experience; it is a way to help save energy, space, and money. However, with the enormous amount of trash being thrown out each year, landfills are increasing in size creating numerous issues. The staggering amount of waste increases greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming and building up dangerous toxins that sink underground into our soil and water, overflows into wildlife habitats and oceans, and costs a large amount of money to remove. By fining residents who incorrectly dispose of recyclable goods, implementing recycling as a requirement in educational institutions and other business and residential settings, categorizing the
Americans make more than 200 million tons of garbage each year, enough to fill Busch Stadium from top to bottom twice a day, that’s over 1800 feet! according to Ballparks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 75% of the American waste stream is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it says Do Something. With the invention of the virtually indestructible material well known as plastic, on top of the rapidly evolving technological world, and the extreme reduction of locations where landfills can be built, it’s hard to believe that 75% of the waste stream in America alone is recyclable, and yet only 30% of it is actually recycled. Recycling is a beneficial solution to many of our increasingly important environmental
Recycling is an important thing to do. The average American throws out atleast 4 pounds of trash everyday, and only recycles about a third of that trash. Those pounds all add up to ridiculous ammounts, harming the earth and filling up the landfills very quickly. It may cost money to start up the recycling process, but researchshows that 500 million dollars can be made just by selling recycled materials.
In the last 40 years, the rate of solid waste recycling in the U.S. has steadily increased. The now old adage, “reduce, reuse, recycle” has become ingrained in the fabric of today’s culture. The impact of your ecological footprint is a constant concern, but you may know someone who thinks less about the environment and more about their own self-interests. Most everyone knows at least one person whose self-centered view of the world leaves recycling to everyone else. In this article, learn how to appeal to their selfishness by explaining how recycling can benefit them.
Ever since elementary school, we’re taught to recycle. They usually do not tell us why it’s so important to recycle or what it does for the world, but they just say to recycle. So some adhere to what we’re told and others just pass it by as if it were nothing. Maybe if we were told why we should do it, more people would actually take the time out of their day and recycle. When we here the word “recycle,” we think of soda cans, water bottles, and plastic material, but what many don’t know is that there is much more than that we can recycle. Once people start to recycle, they realize it’s completely easy and becomes more of a habit. “In 1973, not a single curbside recycling program existed in the United States.
The life of trash. It may be old, disgusting, and unwanted, but it lives way longer then we can see it. In this trash you can find things such as bottles, food, cans, clothes, and “old technology”. Sitting at a lunch table one might want to talk and enjoy their time with friends in the small break of the day. But they could be sitting and watching the trashcans with all their potential. The trash has lives too. Their life (cycle) could continue, but so many decide to end it after they are done with it. Many watch as the life of these items is ended early and unnecessarily. With the U.S. population approximately 320,000,000 persons and growing, recycling has the potential to have a huge impact economically, socially and environmentally. The U.S. (and 30 other countries) is part of the O.E.C.D. (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development). This organization exists for governments to discuss global issues facing their countries, including disposing and recycling. Working through the O.E.C.D. global change could occur especially if America, the world’s largest contributor, would lead. Recycling is small for individuals but can have huge rewards if everyone is involved. This can be accomplished by increasing awareness, education, and through incentives and/or fines.
People Need to Recycle In the United Sates, where the population is inflated every year. The amount of space for landfills decreases every day. The need for recycling should not be asked, it should just be done out of habit. Everyone in America needs to recycle, to help the lamdfill problem, help the environment, and help produce new products from recycled goods. In America there is about two-hundred and eight tons of residential and commercial trash generated a year, 4.3 pounds per person a day (Prichard 1A). This is an overwhelming amount of trashed produced yearly. When people recycle this number can be drastically cut. But many people do not practice and use