The Advantages of Recycling and Its Impact on The Environment

Why should we recycle? Failing to recycle could contribute to the end of life on earth as we know it. Recycling should be compulsory in every household because this will eventually save energy, reduce global warming and protects the marine life. This is not happening as much as it should because many people believe that recycling is too expensive. The purpose of this essay is to answer the question of why we should recycle by analyzing the benefits of recycling.

Was it ever wondered when recycling started? Or the main reason of why it started? It all started to help Americans but now it is needed to save the Earth. Recycling was invented to help with the economic depression for many years. It is even said that is has been around for thousands of years. A lot of Americans were poor and could not afford to purchase new items, so they recycled what they could. Back then this was mainly done within small households. Not many large businesses or large homes recycled for needs since they were financially stable to just purchase new items. Yes, recycling was around for thousands of years but it had a major comeback in 1970. In the year 1970, the first Earth Day was held. Earth Day is an environmental movement and is now every 22nd of April. It was founded by Gaylord Nelson who at the time was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. In 1969, he had witnessed a huge oil spill in Santa Ana, California which was the reason why he created Earth Day.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values. Many Americans participated on Earth Day almost 50 years ago when it first started. This is something that can be done today with the help of everyone. It does not just have to be Americans, this is something the whole world needs to participate in and be a part of. Though Earth Day was created in the United States to improve our environment, it is not the greenest country in the world. In fact, after doing a little bit of research it was said that Switzerland is the greenest country. They have recycling bins everywhere it can be imagined.

Recycling is now being influenced by many social media influencers and has many people supporting it but sadly it is not enough. The Earth is not here because of humans but it is the humans who are here because of the earth. A lot can be done for the Earth and for us who are its caretakers. How does earning a few bucks sound from just recycling? For many, very interesting.

For some people, it takes a little bit of cash to be convinced. Luckily, a few bucks can be earned by just recycling items that we see everywhere and every day. All items such as water bottles, cans, glass products, cardboard, paper, and foam can be recycled. An easy example is reusing the amazon boxes or packages one receives and using it again to send other products in the mail. Ever wonder why trucks are loaded with metal objects like boilers, washing machines, and other metal objects? They are taking it to locations that buy them in return for a good amount of cash. The afternoon before it is trash pick-up day they drive around neighborhoods looking for aluminum, metal, and copper items people leave outside of their trash cans. Quick and easy cash.

Aluminum cans can be recycled and depending on the state (where one resides) one can get 5 to 10 cents per bottle. Imagine all the leftover cans and bottles from a party, that is easy $5.00 in total, maybe even more. As it was stated before, it depends on the state where one resides it the item is recyclable. Sadly, some states do not participate enough to recycle.

Sadly, there is no law that makes it mandatory for every state within the United States to participate in recycling. There are a few states that give leftover cans and plastic bottle value. Ever wondered why stores add bottle deposits? When the store buys bottles from the distributor they also pay a bottle deposit which is later returned to them when people go to their store to return bottles. This here is a law within many states to establish bottle deposits and refunds.

Shockingly, there is a city that makes it mandatory for their citizens to recycle. This is the City of Seattle. If the city finds a good amount of items within their trash that can be recycled, they will be fined. Sadly, it has to come to this where the city itself has to take action for something everyone should be doing. As many have heard the end of the world can come if we do not take action now. Recycling comes with many benefits, and most importantly it benefits our climate.

Climate has been a trending topic lately. Many are speaking of it but is something being done? Something can be done and it should be done now. “Waste prevention and recycling are important practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — which are the cause of climate change”. The more recycling that takes place the less amount of ‘fresh products’ is needed. For example, if bottles are recycled then it's not needed to create more chemicals or harsh products to make more bottles. With this being said it also reduces land waste since products are being reused.

Who enjoys having trash around them? Nobody. The story of recycling does not end by going to exchange the bottles for cash or by setting recyclable items on the side of the curb in a box. This is actually the very beginning. Waste here is being reduced right away because these items are going to a recyclable center, not to landfills. Since it is not going to landfills it also lowers water contamination from when it rains and the chemicals go into the soil then into lakes, oceans, ponds, or beaches.

The beauty of the Earth is natural. The Earth has provided so much for its people and it's giving us plenty of opportunities to value and cherish its land and waters. Save the Earth and protect it today by recycling and reducing waste. The Earth deserves to be thanked.

So why should we recycle? As seen from the essay, recycling is one of the most important actions currently available to reduce harmful impacts and represents one of the most dynamic areas in the plastics industry today. Recycling provides opportunities to reduce oil usage, carbon dioxide emissions and the quantities of waste requiring disposal. While plastics have been recycled since the 1970s, the quantities that are recycled vary geographically, according to plastic type and application. Recycling of packaging materials has seen rapid expansion over the last decades in a number of countries. Advances in technologies and systems for the collection, sorting and reprocessing of recyclable plastics are creating new opportunities for recycling, and with the combined actions of the public, industry and governments it may be possible to divert the majority of plastic waste from landfills to recycling over the next decades.