When you throw plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and other recyclables into the blue bin, you probably feel a sense of pride knowing you are doing your part to help the environment. I know I do. But what is the process of recycling?
Read below to learn all about the recycling centers. The good, the bad, the advantages, and disadvantages. Recycling is good for the planet but there are some struggles to be aware of. It’s important to realize that recycling is a small piece of an eco-friendly lifestyle. There are many other ways to have a positive impact on the planet. So, what are recycling centers and how does recycling work?
What Is Recycling?
Recycling is the process of turning old used materials into new ones. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycling helps reduce the exploitation of natural resources, saves money, and reduces pollution and waste. It is more than just separating plastic bottles and aluminum cans out of the trash. It is a process that includes collecting recyclable materials, processing them into raw materials and then manufacturing the raw materials into new products.
There are many types of recyclables, sometimes called recyclates, including batteries, plastic, paper, glass, aluminum, steel, motor oil, tires, toxics, refrigerators, computer printers. Organic matter is also recyclable through the use of composting.
How Does Recycling Help The Environment?
Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing energy usage, air pollution (from incineration), and water pollution (from landfills). With a growing population and the convenience of single-use packaging, natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate. And a gut-wrenching statistic, currently less than 25% of waste is being recycled. The rest is being buried or incinerated in landfills.
More than 70% of the waste we produce can be reused and recycled. If you are decluttering or finished with something, check to see if it can be reused or recycled. Nearly everything you use in your everyday life can be recycled. Even if just half of you reading this recycled on a regular basis, it would reduce greenhouse emissions equivalent to taking 25 million cars off the road.
Think about what it would be like if ALL OF YOU started recycling on a daily basis! Recycling helps reduce the exploitation of natural resources, saves money, and reduces pollution and waste.
Recycling Benefits
Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills
Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals
Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials
Saves energy and money
Conserves valuable resources and cuts down on carbon emissions
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
Stimulates the use of greener technologies
Prevents the loss of biodiversity
Disadvantages of Recycling
Ok, so now you know the benefits of recycling, but what about the disadvantages? Yes, recycling is important and it is one of the Rs of eco-friendly life. Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. It is further down the chain because there are some repercussions of recycling. One is that it takes energy and creates pollution to recycle.
Recycling requires waste to be transported, sorted, cleaned and processed in separate factories, all of which need energy and may result in by-products that can pollute the air, water or soil.
Also, recycling can have an adverse effect on health and the environment when not done properly. Debris and toxic waste that is improperly handled can contaminate land, air, and the environment.
Recycling does help reduce energy usage, consumption of raw materials, and air and water pollution, but it does have its drawbacks.
This is why it’s important to focus on living more simply and refusing to buy new things you don’t need, reducing what you do use, reusing before getting new, and then recycling.
Recycling Industry Struggles
Disposable byproducts of our throwaway culture found a market in China, allowing Americans to toss their garbage in recycling bins with a clean conscious. These recyclables were shipped to China. But in late 2017, China imposed a stringent ban on imports of certain scrap papers and plastics.
More Asian nations prepare to follow China’s lead and the recycling industry is struggling. In fact, Califonia's largest operator of recycling RePlanet shut it’s doors and laid off 750 employees. China started banning certain scrap imports partly because of complaints that the United States was shipping “contaminated” and poorly sorted recyclables.
This has prompted an increase in U.S. recycling plants to fill the void. Now, scrap waste is piling up in warehouses and parking lots. Some are ending up in waterways, oceans, landfills, and incinerators.
We need to realize that there are limitations to recycling and assuming that everything in the blue bin gets recycled. As a consumer, it’s time to change your purchasing practices and avoid single-use containers and packaging that aren't recyclable.
Head to Recycling Centers: Everything You Need To Know to learn more.
Comments(0)