Recycling of resources is a hugely significant action in day-to-day life. In the examinations of what it entails, it is the course of action where already used materials; are in beneficial use. Waste management is as a crucial environmental issue, where recycling forms the key method which promotes it. Therefore, the consideration of it lies on the bases of it as an important method of promoting sustainable development, through conservation of the environment. This process reduces various environmental impacts and helps in saving natural resources (Lawson 59). Therefore, this discussion focuses on the importance of recycling of papers instead of burning them. The discussion also points out the environmental impacts. These impacts occur when burning takes place. At the same time, the discussion explains the benefits, which have the likelihood of attainment in recycling.
To begin with, there are numerous environmental impacts caused when burning takes place. Air pollution is an environmental impact, which forms a crucial part in burning. There are health issues, which relates with polluted air when inhaled by human, such a clogging of the respiratory system and coughing. Death cases are common in an air-polluted environment than a less polluted one- as there are more particles inhaled. Burning of papers promotes a higher level of forest and tree degradation in the process of production of new papers. Trees serve an immensely significant role in the environments as they act as carbon sinkers (William G. Camp 15). This in turn, leads to acceleration of carbon dioxide – the greenhouse gas added in the atmosphere-, which contributes to global warming. Greenhouse gases deplete the ozone layer; thus, the ultra violet rays reach the earth surface without filtration. Directs ultra violet rays are threats to human health. There have been cases of skin cancer, which occurs because of being into contacts with these rays.
There are also other serious environmental impacts, which accompany global warming such as droughts. Droughts have greater impacts not only on human beings but also on vegetation. Human beings and animals die out of starvation and lack of water, due to drying up of vegetation and rivers. Forest depletion occurs in the action of production of new papers, promotes climate change (Duraiappah 7). Trees are particularly significant in the water cycle process, which supports this fact; the fewer the trees the little amount of rainfall available. Water is the vital component that leads to promotion of life in all aspects. In the water cycle, replenishment occurs in water bodies such as oceans. Water bodies serve as prime carbon sinkers, thus, the more the amount of water in them, the more carbon is absorbed. Burning also promotes the use of more energy in the production of new papers. Energy used during recycling is less than the one used when producing new papers. More energy used leads to more production of greenhouse gases as fuel is used in the process, thus increasing global warming.
Poor promotion of sustainable development occurs when burning of papers takes place, instead on recycling takes places. Consequently, the development of future generation is in a poor state. This happens due to the reduction of forest and depletion of fuel sources. Where resources are few, humans alternatively degrade the environments in an attempt to survive. Human being forms the best part in the social environments. Trees in the forest, on the other hand, forms a healthy ecosystem for wild animals, thus depletion of these trees lead to loss on habitats to wild life. This leaves human beings being prone to unnecessary attacks. At the same time, wildlife is a threat to human beings, by the fact that they do not only kill human beings for food, but they also destroy the vegetation, for human consumption.
Through burning of papers, smoke is produced which is a crucial component in the formation of smog. Formation of smog is through the combination of smoke and fog. Smog is harmful as it forms the ozone layer near the surface of the earth. Human health is also at stake as some diseases such as asthma are in many cases aggravated by smog. There are different methods used when recycling takes place. In consideration to recycling of papers, they can be recycled and used in for the same purpose as before (Lawson, Hands-On Science: Conservation of Energy 65). On the other hand, the recycled papers have chances in different work all the same, such as tissue papers. Composting of these papers with other waste is also a method of recycling. In this new state, the humus formed can be used in agricultural practices.
In conclusion, recycling reduces the environmental impact caused by burning of papers. Natural resources such as forest from where the production of paper has a significant part in it- conservation occurs. At the same time, fuel is conserved which also, helps in reduction of global warming. Climate change is, therefore, managed as well as the water cycle process. Achievement of sustainable development is experienced, where future generation, which forms the best part of the social environment, is not at risk. Finally, there will be promotion of prolonged and proper s sustainability.
Works Cited
Duraiappah, Pieter van Beukering Anantha K. Economic and Environmental Impacts of Waste Paper Trade and Recycling in India. IBH Publishing Company: New Delh, 1996. Print.
Lawson, Jennifer E. Hands-On Science: Conservation of Energy. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2001. Print.
Hands-On Science: Conservation of Energy. Canada: Malcolm Publisher, 2001. Print.
William G. Camp, Thomas B. Daugherty. Managing our Natural Resources. New York: University of Columbia, 2000. Print.