Some years back, nobody paid much attention to the accumulation of waste in homes and landfills. It became so vast that the authorities started getting concerned that the phenomenon could create a disaster. A solution had to be found, but one that is kind to humans and the environment. That’s how recycling came into existence.
Recycling is the process of converting waste into new, useful products. Waste materials that can be recycled include plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, food and drink cans, trays, tabs, food and beverages cartons, and aluminum foils. Although recycling has been going on for the past few years, recycling efforts need to be increased, considering the amount of waste disposed of every day.
Several reasons exist as to why we should promote recycling. Recycling helps us to convert our old products into new useful products. In other words, it is good for the environment. Since we are saving resources and are sending less trash to the landfills, it helps in reducing air and water pollution. Listed below are a few reasons why we should all recycle old products. Below are the 21+ reasons why we need to recycle more.
21+ Awesome Reasons Why We Should Recycle More
1. It’s a Global Problem
Accumulation of waste is not just a problem for a single nation; it’s a global problem. If waste is allowed to accumulate unabated, humans might run out of locations to bury synthetic waste, or the waste might bring devastating effects to the environment, which is happening unknowingly by the way through global warming.
2. Conserve Natural Resources
Plants are considered limited resources. If a lot of pressure is exerted on these natural resources, they might be depleted fast. The only way to dramatically stop the pressure applied to these resources is recycling. Statistics, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, show that recycling one ton of paper saves up about 17 trees as well as 17,000 gallons of water.
3. Reduces Carbon Emissions
Recycling greatly minimizes carbon emissions, commonly referred to as greenhouse gasses. If these wastes were not recycled, they would end up being combusted, emitting dangerous greenhouse gasses.
Whatever be your opinion on global warming, a lot of people converge to the idea that everyone needs to play a role in minimizing the effects of pollution and emissions. Research studies suggest that a single tree can get rid of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. Recycling is needed to save more trees to ensure a well-balanced level of carbon dioxide.
4. Reduces Air Pollution
Trash that ends up in landfills decomposes over time and cause a stench smell. Recycling helps to reduce air pollution. When we recycle, the toxins produced by factories to make new products get reduced. Less reliance on landfills and incinerators reduces pollutants and improves health.
Moreover, recycling paper helps to reduce the number of trees cut. This, in turn, reduces the greenhouse effect as the trees absorb carbon dioxide in the air.
5. Almost Everything Can be Recycled to Reduce Waste
When we really try, everything from batteries, to food waste, to clothing, electronics, glass, metal, paper, and plastic can be recycled. According to a Canadian report, nearly 80% of typical household garbage is made up of recyclable materials or organic materials that break down easily. As per estimation, at least 50% of the materials thrown into the garbage by a person could be recycled instead.
6. Saves Energy
Recycling has been proved to save lots of energy. Manufacturing products from raw materials consumes a lot of non-renewable energy. Companies that utilize recycled aluminum save up to 95% energy during the production of aluminum products when compared to companies that source raw materials. Making goods from recycled materials uses less water, less energy and creates less pollution.
7. Minimizes Accumulation in Landfills
The rate of waste disposal in the modern day is increasing at an alarming rate. This rapid increase translates to accumulation and subsequent overflowing of landfills. Space for waste disposal can run out if a solution is not found.
Cities situated near oceans have been polluting the water for many years due to landfill overflow. The oceans cannot entertain this habit anymore. The only way is recycling. As much as 60-75% of waste occurring in landfills can be recycled. This technically means that if everyone made a point to recycle, we would have 65-75% less land for waste moving forward.
8. Recycling Reduces the Size of Landfills
Every piece of trash that is taken out of the garbage and put into the recycling reduces the requirements of new landfills and also expanding the ones already in operation. The utilization of a piece of land entirely to becoming a massive mountain of garbage is a waste of resources. It damages the property value of the land and improves the quality of life in adjacent communities.
9. Beefs up Property Value
One of the most effective ways to beef up the value of your property is to embrace recycling. People who take up the practice of recycling reduce the amount of waste going into landfills.
It’s a no-brainer that landfills significantly lower property value since nobody likes the idea of living near a smelly landfill. You and your neighbor’s effort to recycle more will mean your city will need fewer landfills, hence, clean surrounding air. The best routine is to recycle each week.
10. One Person Can Make a Big Difference
Most people have already made up their minds that one person cannot make any difference in regard to recycling waste. That thinking might apply in other fields. In recycling, an individual can make a big difference.
Averagely, every American produces about 1600 pounds of waste every year. Up to 1100 pounds of waste can be recycled every year per person. That represents a half a ton per individual. This means a family of four can minimize waste by more than two tons each year just by the easy task of recycling.
11. Leads to Creation of Jobs
Recycling takes place in industries. If the act of recycling is ramped up, many recycling plants will be set up. More recycling plants mean more jobs. Statistically, recycling creates 10 times more employment opportunities than landfill waste management. Recycling 14,000 tonnes of waste creates nine jobs, and composting it creates seven jobs, but landfilling it creates just one job.
12. Saves You Money
Developing the habit of buying only what you need and reusing products rather than purchasing a new one saves a lot on your budget. In most states in America, it’s actually costly to dispose of waste than to recycle. Some recycling companies buy wastes from neighborhoods for their recycling activities. This brings you an extra income that you can channel to your budget. Revenue can also be generated from selling compost to the community.
13. Accelerates Technological Advancements
The modern-day has seen increased social pressure to embrace more eco-friendly practices. This has forced companies to search for innovative technologies to incorporate recycled materials into their line of products. The new technologies are best for Mother Nature.
14. Conserves Wildlife
Increased use of recycled products puts a break to the exploitation of natural resources like forests, rivers, lakes and wetlands, which are natural habitats for wildlife.
15. Creates New Demand
Developing the routine of recycling and purchasing recycled products ramps up demand for more recycled products, hence, minimizing waste and improving the economy. Most American companies rely largely on recycling programs to supply the required materials for their recycled products. In fact, according to statistics, the recycling industry is raking in over $100 billion in revenue each year.
16. Ensures a Truly Sustainable Future
Planet earth harbors a limited amount of natural resources and restricted capacity to recycle waste. By recycling, we are doing two great things to our future: minimizing our immediate effect on planet earth and developing sustainable practices for future generations.
17. Accumulation of Waste Causes Deadly Diseases
Poor disposal and accumulation of waste in landfills leads to the emission of toxic and infectious gasses. If these gasses are inhaled over time, they may lead to a wide range of respiratory diseases such as asthma. Also, if the toxic liquids draining from landfills find a way into water sources, infectious diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, and dysentery could spread.
18. Maintains Groundwater Quality
If landfills are allowed to accumulate, they can impact the quality of groundwater. Most landfill management companies do not make any effort to treat their landfills. They only throw the waste in a dug-up hole and bury it. A big percentage of waste thrown in landfills is neither eco-friendly nor biodegradable, and the contaminants occurring in these wastes may find a way to groundwater supply, making it unsafe for consumption.
This typically happens when rainwater or runoff water coming from landfills snake through the land to water bodies such as streams, rivers, and lakes. This phenomenon destroys the already fragile ecosystems and renders the once fresh and safe waters risky to drink.
Recycling of waste will prevent the continuity of this dangerous cycle and reduce the contamination of groundwater. The recycling of the products such as batteries and other e-waste materials also helps to keep off contaminants from getting into water supplies.
19. Clean Cities and Neighborhoods
The average American utilizes about 2,500,000 plastic bottles each hour. Not everyone is responsible enough to throw the plastics in the right place. The plastics end up scattered in city streets and neighborhoods, leaving these places looking unsightly. Recycling will ensure these plastics never occur in the streets as people will be picking them up to sell to recycling companies.
20. Keeps Waste Collection Costs Down
The cost of collecting garbage from every neighborhood is relatively expensive. Large trucks have to be deployed to pick up and transport the waste to landfills. Recycling has significantly reduced the cost of collection, as most garbage goes to recycling plants.
21. Recycling Prevents Waste From Becoming Pollution
Waste diversion directs garbage away from landfills or incinerators through reuse, recycling, composting or gas production through anaerobic digestion. It prevents waste from becoming a source of pollution.
We know that there is an enormous floating patch of garbage in the Pacific Ocean of the size twice the size of Texas. Eventually, everything finds its way to the ocean. And it’s true that it was entirely preventable. When we recycle the materials, we prevent them from finding their way into the environment where they can be harmful to both people and animals.
Recycling helps in a waste diversion that is a key component of effective and sustainable waste management and encourages environmentally sustainable behavior.
22. We Need Less From the Earth
We need fewer materials to take from nature more we reclaim from our own homes. Recycling paper means less deforestation. Recycling metal means less mining and thereby less mining pollution. Keeping nature intact benefits every living organism, and more land is available for agriculture, for the wild and other uses.
