Cutting
back on global warming, preventing air and water pollution and saving
our energy resources answers the question 'why should we recycle'.
Factories and industries that produce goods that have become an
indispensable part of our lives add an appalling amount of waste to the
environment and recycling seems the only way to save our planet.
With
population explosion we are stretching our natural resources to their
limits. The various goods of necessity that the numerous factories and
industries are churning out, are not only exhausting our natural
resources at an alarming rate, but they are also generating wastes that
are the source of serious environmental issues. We have to meet our
needs, that just don't seem to ebb. Nevertheless, one wise way to do
that is to recycle used goods. It's just a single statement, - We should
recycle to save the environment that justifies recycling. But a more
detailed look at the environmental impact that waste generated by us
has, helps us realize that there are a plethora of reasons for why we
should recycle.
What does Recycling Mean
Although we have
overworked the planet, we can stop destruction and degradation of the
environment by inculcating civic responsibility into the young
generation. It isn't that the aluminum cans and plastic bottles become
useless once we have consumed their contents. These objects can be
processed and can be reused to make new products i.e recycled. In more
technical terms recycling can be defined as "collecting, separating,
processing and marketing" a material that would otherwise have been
thrown away. Glass is one material that is 100% recyclable, although
every product does not have that quality. Recycling plastic is something
that is being seriously considered as it is not biodegradable and is
the source of toxic wastes that are released in the environment. Other
than plastic and glass, steel cans, paper products and even electronic
goods are other commodities that are being considered to be recycled.
These days, 'rainwater harvesting' (collecting rainwater and using it in
the house, office and garden) plays an important role in maintaining
the balance of the ecosystem.
Why Should We Recycle
Here are some reasons that make it clear why recycling is important:
To Reduce Global Warming
Carbon
dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to global
warming. Manufacturing certain products releases a lot more carbon
dioxide than recycling them would. Aluminum is the best example of this.
Manufacturing new aluminum goods produces 95% more carbon dioxide than
recycling old aluminum objects. One big reason for those who wonder why
should we recycle paper is that for each ton of paper that is recycled,
15 trees are saved from being felled. We are aware of the fact that
trees use up carbon dioxide from atmosphere to make food through the
process of photosynthesis. It is estimated that one tree absorbs almost
250 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. As the question 'how does
recycling affect environment' is swirling in your mind, here are some
more points that would explain why recycling is encouraged these days.
To Prevent Air Pollution
We
are already aware of the amount of gaseous waste that industries spew
out everyday. Factories and industries manufacturing items made from
plastic and metals release large amounts of toxic gases. With continuous
increase in population, demand for these goods also keep rising. If we
do not recycle these objects then we have to set up new industries to
manufacture these goods. This means more air pollution.
To Solve the Problem of Scarcity of Landfills
Lot
of our garbage is disposed off in landfills. But the rate at which we
are producing trash, is overwhelming. We are already running out of
areas that could be used as landfills and soon there might not be any
left either. This crisis is severe in the cities and suburbs. There, the
problem is so pressing that landfills are slowly creeping closer to
crowded human settlements. This is making human beings vulnerable to
diseases.
To Prevent Water Pollution
This problem is related
in part to landfills. The waste that is disposed in landfills is not
treated. Contaminants from the products in the landfills seep down to
lower levels of the soil where they reach groundwater and pollute it.
Other than polluting groundwater, scarcity of landfills and the
overwhelming amount of waste that we produce has not left us with any
choice but to dump waste in seas and oceans. The devastating effect of
release of industrial waste in these water bodies coupled with civic
waste that are being dumped in the seas and oceans, on marine ecology,
is well-known to us. Environmental preservation is one of the most
important benefits of recycling.
To Save Energy
Another reason
why you should recycle is that it saves energy. Recycling most of the
products that we use involves much lesser amount of energy than making
them anew. For example, recycling paper saves almost 65% energy than
making new sheets of paper. If instead of making new products, one pound
of steel is recycled then it saves enough energy to light a 60 watt
bulb for 24 hours straight!
Recycling Facts
There are
reasons enough for those who want to know why should we recycle plastic.
One of them is that plastics are a major source of environmental
pollution and are much easy to be recycled that generally thought. Do
you know that Americans alone throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles
every hour?
On an average, one person uses up two pine trees worth of paper each year.
To produce one ton of paper, 390 gallons of oil is used up.
For every ton of glass recycled, one ton of resources used to make it is saved.
With increase in use of electronic goods, people are also resorting
to recycling electronic goods. These form a considerable portion of
trash that is dumped in landfills. Needless to say that the amount of
plastic and other electric components that are used to manufacture these
products, are making them a potent source of toxins being released to
the environment.
After learning about the various environmental
changes that are the direct result of human activity, one should help
create awareness about reducing pollution and saving energy. Buying
recycled products is an important part of the recycling procedure which
helps complete the loop. By "purchasing the recycled," you can take part
in the 'Save Earth' campaign and can make the recycling process a
success. Your contribution is very important for the success of the
mission. It can help save the resources and can help keep the earth
green, pollution-free and beautiful.
You can use 'wet garbage' to
produce manure for your garden. Thus, you can save a lot of energy and
money. By using wind energy or solar energy, you can save other
important resources on the earth. You can easily avoid unnecessary use
of plastic bags and bottles. Last but not the least, recycling has
helped create millions of new jobs. So, it is beneficial for all. I hope
the article has provided a satisfactory answer to the question 'why
should we recycle?' Government has already set up recycling units.
However, besides sending all the trash to these units we ourselves could
contribute to recycling by reusing used products and checking the
amount of waste that we generate.
By Debopriya Bose
