Recycling
Does recycling actually make our society healthier?
What is Recycling?
- The process of improving, converting, and reusing waste materials that would otherwise be gotten rid of
- Paper, glass, plastic, and metals are the most common materials recycled throughout the world
Background Information
Pros or Positive Effects
It decreases need for countries to go through expensive imports
Helps steer clear of air and water pollution from manufacturing plants
Based on the EPA, "Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change"
Recycling saves land
Based on the article, "Recycling", "...,energy costs are reduced, fewer people suffer from pollution-related illnesses, and land that would have been used for landfills can be put to more productive use."
Based on the article, "Recycled Materials Produce Less Pollution", "...using recycled materials reduces the need to extract, process, refine, and transport the timber, crude petroleum, ores, and so on that are necessary for virgin-based paper, plastics, glass, and meals, recycling lessens the toxic air emissions, effluents, and solid wastes that these manufacturing processes create."
Because paper can be recycled, it decreases the need for forests and trees to be cut down for new paper
"...creates many more jobs for rural and urban communities than landfill and incineration disposal options"
On a per-ton premise, recycling creates times ten the amount of jobs in recycling than in lanfilling
Cons or Negative Effects
- Based on the article, "Recycling", "...cost of collecting, sorting, and processing recyclables can, for some materials, be higher than that of processing new raw materials."
- It is more of an expense to cities or towns than it does to help them save money
- Important time is wasted for people and occupations by having to sort and organize the recyclables every week
- In Los Angeles, there are far more trucks on the street than believed to be needed
- Because of recycling 800 trucks are on street instead of 400 trucks which is the number that there is believed should be in Los Angeles
- In one area cost for recycling is $240 per ton while cost for dumping in landfills is $130 per ton
- Based on the article, "Mandatory Recycling Wastes Resources", with all of the trucks,"'That means extra wear and tear on city streets, double the exhaust emissions into the atmosphere, double the man-hours required for someone to drive and man those trucks, and double the costs of maintenance and upkeep of the trucks.'"
- Based on the article, "Recycling", "...cost of collecting, sorting, and processing recyclables can, for some materials, be higher than that of processing new raw materials."
- According to the article, "Recycling is Uneconomical", recycling adds more pollution because of, "...: fumes and noise from collection trucks, solid waste and sludge from the mills that remove ink and turn the paper into pulp."
- When recycling of about a ton of newsprint occurs and recycled newsprint is produced, approximately 5,000 extra gallons of waste water is let off
Does recycling actually make our society economically and environmentally healthier when it comes down to the final point?
Conclusion
Bibliography
- Four Recycling Cans- Paper, Glass, Plastic, Metal. Digital image. British Council- ESOL Nexus. British Council, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://esol.britishcouncil.org/content/learners/grammar-and-vocabulary/vocabulary-and-spelling/recycling>.
- Hershkowitz, Allen. "Recycled Materials Produce Less Pollution." Pollution. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "In Defense of Recycling." Social Research (Spring 1998). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
- Household Waste and Recycling Centre, Foxhall, near Ipswich, Suffolk, England. Photo. Encyclopedia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 17 Dec 2015. http://quest.eb.com/search/300_173995/1/300_173995/cite
- Plant, Brenda. "Recycling Is Economical." Pollution. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "The Five Most Dangerous Myths About Recycling."www.ilsr.org/recycling/fivemyths.html. 1996. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
- "Recycling Basics." EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 16 Nov. 2015. Web. 15 Dec. 2015. <http://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics>.
- RECYCLING PLANT.Sloatsburg, NY.Conveyor Belt with Recycled Material. Materials That Can Be Recycled Include Metal, Plastic, Paper, and Glass.. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 15 Dec 2015. http://quest.eb.com/search/157_1248686/1/157_1248686/cite
- "Recycling." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.
- Thayer, James. "Mandatory Recycling Wastes Resources." Garbage and Recycling. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Recycle This!" Weekly Standard (25 Jan. 2006). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
- Tierney, John. "Recycling Is Uneconomical." Pollution. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Recycling Is Garbage." New York Times 30 June 1996. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
- Tomra Recycling Centre. Photography. Encyclopedia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 11 Dec 2015. http://quest.eb.com/search/132_1306190/1/132_1306190/cite
- What Happens To Stuff We Throw Away*? Digital image. EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 16 Nov. 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics>.