There are many good reasons for recycling. Recycling is a simple way to help not only your community but also the world. The recycling process is a three-part cycle that can create great things not only for the community but also for the country. Some of the benefits of the recycling process are:
- Recycling saves energy
- Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced
- Save natural resources (timber, water & minerals)
- Recycling helps create jobs in the recycling industry as well as in the manufacturing industry.
The three steps to recycling are:
- The first step is to collect materials that can be recycled. Normal garbage collection can be done on the curbside, or it can be collected at the drop-off locations for items that cannot be collected on the curbside. Many communities use to deposit or refund programs for certain bottles and packaging materials. Many cities provide bins for households to keep the recyclables materials in them until they are taken away. The most basic items that can be recycled curbside are paper and cardboard, glass, cans, and plastic.
- Once the items have been collected, the next step is to find the secondary use of the material. Recycled materials are used in many manufacturing processes, and many companies find these materials to have very innovative uses. Recycled materials are sold in the same way as raw materials. Using recycled materials consumes less energy and reduces the environmental impact of various products.
- The next step in the process is to buy goods made from recycled materials. When checking the labels in a grocery store, you will generally see that the product is made with a certain percentage of post-consumer products. The most commonly used household items are:
- Newspapers and paper towels
- Motor oil
- Aluminium cans
- Nails
- Trash bags
- Egg cartons
This is only a small part of what recycled materials can be used for. For example, the tire recycling process can take old car and truck tires and turn them into mat materials, which can be used as padding for playground equipment. Grass and weeds cannot grow through it, and the walkway will last longer than many other products.
An item that can be used forever is glass. Glass can be transformed into glass over and over again. Soda bottles, wine bottles and any other glass containers can be remade over and over again. Keeping glass away from landfills is an easy way to protect the environment.
The three steps of the recycling process are combined to help protect the environment. By collecting recyclable materials and purchasing post-consumer recycled products, everyone can do their part to protect the environment and save energy and landfill space.