The Advantages of Recycling
First developed in England in the mid-1850s as a product that could be heated and molded into simple shapes, plastic has come a long way. Today, plastic is everywhere – woven into clothing, used in toys, consumer electronic devices, automotive and medical components, building materials, and many other products. As ubiquitous as oxygen, it nonetheless is overwhelming in its scope and can be dangerous to the earth and its inhabitants. Did you know there is an area in the Pacific Ocean called The Great Pacific Garbage Patch that is three times the size of France? It is nothing more than a floating debris field of nearly every kind of plastic item you can imagine. For this reason and others, there are many advantages to recycling simply plastic.
- The main advantages
Many communities have policies about which items can be recycled and in what manner. The key to making it work – beyond the simple mantra of “re-use and recycle” is educating consumers about why recycling efforts are so important. Here are a few key reasons to think twice before dumping that glass bottle or plastic bowl into the trash.
- You can save money and in some cases be financially rewarded for your efforts
In many communities, residents and businesses are encouraged to recycle: By turning in plastic bottles, a consumer can receive money for each “deposit” which can then be pocketed and used for other purchases. Communities can also save money by voting to allow their tax dollars to be used to construct recycling facilities, which are less expensive to build and maintain that a waste dump.
- Creates job opportunities
Like many industries, recycling businesses create jobs. Many, many jobs. According to some studies, plastic and other waste recycling efforts could result in 10,000 jobs across the UK by 2020, or up to 51,000 if 70 percent of collected waste items were recycled.
- Reduces the need for landfills
Some landfills are huge, spanning dozens of acres and dotting the urban landscape like towering, smelling, human-made mountains of trash. Recycling facilities are much smaller and do not generate pungent odors or potentially hazardous byproducts.
- Environmental benefits
Finally, recycling plastic and other materials is good for the earth and its inhabitants. It reduces pollution and greenhouse gases; and aluminum cans made from recycled material can reduce a company’s energy consumption by up to 95 percent, and 70 percent in the case of plastic.
