Global warming, acid rain, deforestation, and the endangerment of species are just some of the pressing environmental concerns that the world is facing. There are many avenues to take in order to help reduce the negative effects of environmental damage- including recycling. It is a little known fact that recycling alone can have a major impact on helping the environment and simple efforts everyday can contribute greatly. So, why recycle? Because you can easily make a difference from the comfort of your own home.
The recycling process involves an assortment of activities that include the collection of waste materials, sorting of materials, and then processing these materials to produce new products. These new products can be used by consumers. Recycling can be summarized in three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This three-step process has many benefits.
The major benefit of recycling is the protection of the environment. Recycling helps reduce the greenhouse effect. During the manufacturing process for most products, non-biodegradable products are disposed of and harmful emissions are produced. If such emissions accumulate to dangerously high levels, global temperatures will change and the world will experience unusual climatic and weather conditions. Recycling can therefore battle global warming as the manufacturing of products such as paper, plastic, glass, and metals will significantly be reduced. This conserves the energy needed for the production of new products.
Aside from global warming, recycling will reduce the impact of deforestation. Recycling paper, in particular, will save lots of trees from being cut down. Plus, when paper is recycled, the demand for wood will be reduced. This means less pressure on forest management For other materials, such as glass, there are many benefits as well. For example, when glass bottles are recycled, the quality of the glass is not compromised. Recycling is therefore contributing to the efficient and cost-effective production of glass.
Compared to producing a material from scratch, from raw materials that is, recycling is more efficient, especially when it comes to energy consumption. If performed nationwide, recycling efforts will lead to a significant drop in energy costs. The amount of energy that is generally used for the extraction, processing, and transportation of metal is much greater than the amount of energy used to recycle metal.
Recycling also builds solidarity among communities. It brings together individuals with a common cause. Recycling is the same regardless of location. Citizens can band together to from environment lobby groups and recycling initiatives.
Recycling can even help boost a nation’s economy as well. On a nationwide scale, recycling creates jobs while cities can enjoy big savings on garbage collection, electricity, and landfill costs.
The benefits of recycling affect you, the country, the environment, and the world. So, why recycle? Because it is easy, all it takes is a simple phone call to your recycling company, and because it can help you to help save the world.