Nowadays, we hear a lot about the need to recycle. Global environmental problems have become the issues of the day. Global warming, depletion of ozone layer, deforestation, and natural resources diminishing rapidly are among the most pressing environmental problems to date. Over the recent years, many international environmental summits have been held.
Organizations such as Greenpeace are struggling to convince the world that it is necessary to think about the future of our planet and what state will we leave it in for our children and grandchildren. However, along with collective effort undertaken by the global community, it is necessary for each person to contribute. Proper waste disposal is one of the ways to do that. Recycling is good for the environment and should be included in the daily routine of any person that cares about the planet and the future of our children.
Waste landfills
Recycling reduces waste sent to landfills, thereby contributing to a safer and healthier environment. Large areas of waste landfills are a serious ecological concern. Consumerism and low level of environmental awareness of the contemporary society lead to an unreasonable amount of trash left at landfills. Moreover, a slow decomposition rate aggravates the problem, with the landfills surface areas increasing rapidly over the recent years (“15 Ways to Reduce Landfill Waste” para. 1). By recycling on a daily basis, we can decrease the amount of waste that ends up covering large planet surfaces.
Plastic and glass packaging, as well as aluminum containers, can be easily recycled by anyone. All we have to do is keep a recycle bin at home, where we can separate glass, paper, plastic, aluminum, metal, and other types of packaging. Recycling stations are in nearly every town in the U.S. Moreover, buying products that are made from recycled waste is an equally reasonable idea that will help reduce the landfills area, thereby contributing to a safer and healthier environment.
Saving energy
Recycling is a way to save energy. Manufacturing new products out of old ones ensures a reduced use of natural resources such as fossil fuels. While manufacturing various things using new materials is a significant burden for the environment, recycling approach allows the manufacturers to save energy on extraction and processing of the materials. “By recycling just 1 ton of aluminum cans, we conserve more than 207 million Btu, the equivalent of 36 barrels of oil or 1,665 gallons of gasoline.” (“How Does Recycling Save Energy?” para. 2).
Utilizing recycled resources always saves a certain amount of energy that is helpful for the environment, even though the recycled materials may vary. Environmental organizations develop calculation instruments to demonstrate how much energy one household can save by committing to recycling. These tools show how much energy is saved by recycling plastic, aluminum, glass, and other products, and how it correlates with the energy used to power the electrical appliances used in a typical household. Thus, it is evident that recycling helps save the environment by reducing the use of energy and natural resources.
Conclusion
The global environmental problems that we face today are a serious concern for the international community. Recycling is one of the solutions that can help reduce the damage inflicted on the planet by human activities. The global collaborative effort aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and stopping global warming are not enough to improve the situation. The contribution should be made on an individual level of every household and every society member. Recycling is an easy way for everyone to contribute. By recycling paper, glass, plastic, aluminum, and other materials each of us can help bring about change that is crucial to a safer and healthier environment.
Works Cited
“15 Easy Ways to Reduce Landfill Waste.” Conserve Energy Future. n.d. Web.
“How Does Recycling Save Energy?” American Geosciences Institute. n.d. Web.