Persuasive Recycling research paper

Posted: November 30th, 2013

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Recycling

            Recycling is the process of passing used substance(s) through a series of changes of treatments to recover the material or part of it for reuse (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). The aim of recycling is to conserve raw material, diminish consumption of energy and lessen the effects of disposal of these substances on the environment. Recycling helps lower the amount of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emitted during virgin production. Recycling is a practice that has existed throughout history and modern advances in technology make the need to recycle even greater. Recycling is not a luxury but a requirement for all.

Recycling has existed since the times of Plato in the absence of new material. Before the advent of the industrial age in Europe, there exists evidence that metals were collected and recycled for their interminable use (Black Dog 34). The main driver for this was that recycled materials were cost-effective. This continued to industrial times since the cost of recycled metal was lower compared to that acquired from their respective ores. This extended to consumer products such as Schweppes beverage bottles from as early as 1800. Shortages during wartime greatly necessitated recycling, and respective governments called for increased efforts to recycle brought about by shortages experienced, and by the need to channel resources to aid the war effort.

In modern times, governments have made a significant contribution to aid recycling efforts due to increasing energy costs. For any of the recycling programs to work, it needs regulations to ensure a large and consistent supply of recyclable material. Three regulative options have been used to create that supply, a compulsory recycling collection, container deposit legislation, and a waste embargo. The mandatory collection laws set the targets while the cities/towns work to meet the set goal. Container deposit laws reward the return of containers such as glass and plastic bottles. This has proved remarkably successful in encouraging the return of these materials to collection points.

The third aspect of the legislature has illegalized the deposition of some waste materials unless there are proper mechanisms to dispose them off, due to their negative long-term effects to the environment. This is mostly for electronic gadgets. Manufactures have the responsibility of providing methods to collect the waste generated by their products and recycle them. Improper disposal of electronic waste has been shown to result in the discharge of substance that depletes the ozone, the protective cover that shields the earth against harmful ultra violent rays from the sun. Hence, product labeling to indicate the proper disposal method is mandatory.

Waste can be divided into consumer and industrial waste. The systems involved in recycling these waste products are different because of the nature of the refuse. Consumer waste collection is divided into three broad spectra, drop-off centers where consumer takes the recyclates to a collection point or the reprocessing company; a buy- back centre that redeems the recyclates for recycling and reselling; roadside/ curbside collection that involves the collection of recyclable refuse by a collection vehicle. Industrial waste recycling mechanisms are regulated by local and international law and profoundly motivated by the cost-benefits that are achieved.

Internationally, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) coordinates the environmental activities of the United Nations by collaborating with governments to execute sound policies. Its mandate covers a wide range of fields such as the atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems and promoting green economies. It has several subdivisions to cover diverse areas concerned with its mandate. UNEP publishes reports that are useful in shedding light to the principal concerns related to the environment. It is a leading advocate of recycling and use of renewable energy sources to slow down the depletion of non-renewable energy resources.

Recycling has had some detractors on the question of whether it is fiscally viable taking into account the cost benefit analysis. This is different from the economic sense since this includes the fringe benefits of reduced pollution causes by greenhouse gas emission, for instance. This argument has called for legislation that has made recycling an attractive option by requiring the use of recycled material in the production. This has increased recycling especially in populated areas that have made use of the economies of scale.

Another difficulty faced in the recycling campaign is the fact that many products are not designed to recycle. It has been advocated that producers should have this in mind when developing products. Complete recycling has also been proved impossible owing to the little waste that occurs and is irrecoverable. An example is the lead used in paints cannot be recovered for recycling hence ends up as waste (Huesemann, 23). Recycling has also been shown to have the opposite effect of conservation. Instead, advances made in efficient use of resources like energy leads to greater consumption (Alcott, 15).

There are different views held concerning recycling including, but not limited to, what can be recycled, the benefits of recycling, the cost and efficiency of recycling as well as the effects of recycling in combating global warming. The benefits, economical and environmental, outweigh the skepticism levied against it. The various stakeholders involved need to continue with the innovative efforts to promote better recycling policies and practices, because there is only one earth and it is humanity’s responsibility to take care of it.

Works Cited

Alcott, B. “Jevons’ paradox”. Ecological Economics 54: 9– 21

Black Dog Publishing. Recycle: a source book. London, UK: Black Dog Publishing. 2006. Print.

Huesemann, M. H. “The limits of technological solutions to sustainable development”. Clean Technological and Environmental Policy, 5, 21–34. 2003. Print.

Metal Stocks in Society: Scientific Synthesis 2010, International Resource Panel, United Nations Environment Programme

The League of Women Voters. The Garbage Primer. New York: Lyons & Burford. 35–72. 1993. Print.