10 Reasons to Recycle
The call to recycle has become resounding and clear. It’s no longer a priority for environmentalists to urge people to recycle. Governments and even corporates have joined the good cause by investing in resources and incentives to make it easier and cheaper to recycle.
If you haven’t started recycling and need some extra push to get you to see what a valuable venture it is, here are ten reasons why you should recycle.
Reduces Waste
According to the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs, British households create over 26 million tonnes of waste each year. That translates to about 400kgs of waste per person. Most of this waste goes to landfills. It is compacted and buried. The methods used to compact the waste, in most cases, interrupt the decomposing process adding to waste in the environment.
By recycling, you can play your part in reducing the waste that makes it to the landfills. Countries like Germany and South Korea have managed to recycle up to 70% of their waste.
It’s Good for the Environment
Recycling requires less energy and fewer natural resources. It lowers the production of toxic chemicals, which are then released into the environment and the air. Most recycling procedures avoid processes that produce harmful chemicals altogether.
Recycling also reduces land, water, and air pollution compared to manufacturing goods from virgin materials.
It Saves Energy
Recycling processes are energy efficient. It requires significantly less energy to recycle materials than producing the same products using virgin materials. For instance, manufacturing with recycled aluminium cans requires 95% less energy.
Recycling paper also saves a lot of energy. Recycling one tonne of paper can save about 4,100kWh of electricity. The same goes for the recycling of glass, which can save up to 40 litres of oil when recycling one ton of glass.
Preserves landfill space
The land is a finite resource, and competition for it is high. Recycling reduces the amount of waste going to landfills, consequently saving up landfill space.
Prevent global warming
Recycling can help reverse the effects of excessive production of greenhouse gases that are causing a warming effect and affecting the delicate balance of the environment and the climate. Recycling reduces the amount of carbon dioxide release and slowly reverse the effects of global warming.
Protect wildlife and marine life
Recycling helps to reduce damage to forests, rivers, swamps, and oceans. Most of the waste makes its way to these habitats, adversely affecting wildlife and causing massive numbers of deaths.
Recycling is good for the economy
The environment is not the only beneficiary of recycling. The economy also benefits substantially. Companies rely on recycling programs to get their raw materials and make new products.
Create employment
Recycling has created employment in public and private entities. Companies and the government are hiring experts and labour to work in the programs and recycling plants to help collect waste and produce new recycled products.
Reduces water pollution
A substantial amount of the waste produced ends up in rivers, lakes and the sea. Also, most of the waste generated from when manufacturing using virgin materials is directed to waterways. Recycling helps to reduce this pollution.
Creating a new demand
The demand for recycled products is at an all-time high. This demand is expected to continue growing as more people turn to recycle.
