Benefits of Recycling
Recycling is available widely, the problem is that we scarcely use it.
Recycling is one of the most straightforward ways to better our planet, yet many people don't know why it is so crucial. Recycling helps both the human population and the animal kingdom in numerous different ways - all enhancing our everyday lives. In times like these, where our Earth needs more help than ever, recycling is increasingly vital. Let's start with an overview of how recycling works, look into its importance to humans, and last nature.
People often throw away common recyclable materials into the trash. However, when we dispose of recyclables correctly, a long process then takes place to save them. Trashmen pick these items up through curbside collection. Other ways to recycle include bringing items to drop-off centers and facilities that give refunds. After collection, operators bring the recyclable materials to recovery facilities all around the country where the contents are cleaned, sorted, and processed into materials for manufacturing. Numerous companies buy these recycled materials to create new products. Some everyday household items that often contain recycled materials include steel cans, paper towels, newspapers, and aluminum. Aside from recycling your trash, you can support the recycling process by buying products that contain recycled materials.
Why is it important to make recycling a part of our everyday lives? Well, there are several answers to this question. First, the human population is increasing rapidly; today, we have ~7.53 billion people inhabiting the Earth; in 2030, there will be 8.6 billion. When the population increases, we use more resources and generate more waste. Second, as society advances, new technologies and products are being created. As wealthier lifestyles emerge, so does the demand and purchase for the next best thing. However, many of these products contain materials that do not degrade when discarded, lingering in our environment, and resulting in millions of toxic chemicals corrupting land over thousands of years.
Recycling affects our everyday lives. Without recycling, products in stores would cost more due to the generation of raw materials from nature. Without recycling, we will eventually run out of space for the waste we generate. More landscapes would be cleared to give way for our garbage and toxic waste. Aside from avoiding these two scenarios, recycling creates more jobs, stimulating our economy. In 2016, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) conducted a National Recycling Economic Information study that analyzed the number of wages, tax revenues, and jobs generated from recycling. The study showed that every year, ~$36.6 billion in wages were funded, $6.7 in tax revenues were accumulated, and 757,000 jobs were created - improving our economy. When breaking this down further, every 1,000 tons of recyclable material results in $76,000 in wages, $14,101 in tax revenue, and 1.57 jobs. Finally, recycling also helps save resources for the future. When recyclable materials create more products, fewer raw materials are being used, providing more raw materials available to future generations.
Recycling has tremendous benefits for our environment. When we make products from crude materials, we contribute to the destruction of habitats, such as rainforests for wood. When we make products from recycled materials, we save these natural raw materials, preserving natural habitats. Furthermore, it takes significant energy to fabricate items from raw materials - and most of the time, this energy requires fossil fuels. While recyclable materials do require electricity to create new products, it takes a significantly lower amount of energy with fewer emissions from fossil fuels. Without recycling, all waste, including recyclable materials, would be sent to a landfill. In these landfills, toxic and poisonous gases develop and wreak havoc across nature. They also result in plastic products getting caught up in the wind and making their way into waterways and surrounding habitats. For example, one hundred million deaths of marine animals occur yearly due to plastic waste. Recycling prevents debris from overtaking nature, meaning no harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases released.
In conclusion, recycling is a process that has many benefits for both our habitat and inhabitants. The amount of plastic material in our world is increasing at an alarming rate due to an increase in population, wealth, products, and modern lifestyles. To fight plastic, recycle. It'll serve humans and nature. Recycling is one of the most accessible actions you can take toward changing climate change.