Recycling is the process of reusing materials for another purpose. This can be the repurposing of materials, the production of new materials from old materials, or taking the waste products from an industry and using them for another purpose. This paper will explore the practice of recycling.
History
Evidence of recycling goes back to the time of Plato (400 BC). Archeological digs reveal the reuse of materials such as pottery, ash, and broken tools. In re-industrial times, the recycling of scrap metal and even the recycling of wool was prevalent. Ash from wood and coal fires was used in brickmaking. In industrial times, the use of scrap metal in manufacturing, such as in the automobile and railroad industries, increased dramatically since the cost of using recycled metals was cheaper than the cost of virgin metal ores. The reuse and recycling of glass beverage bottles started in the 1800’s by the beverage company Schweppes in England. Recycling of bottles was encouraged by placing a deposit on bottles that would be returned once the bottle was returned to the store. By the end of the 1800’s recycling of aluminum cans also used the same technique by placing a deposit on them (“Recycling”).
Recycling played a very important role during World War II. Governments, in efforts of preserving vital metals and fibers, placed a high importance on recycling. The next revolution in recycling occurred during the 1970’s. Energy consumption by the processing of raw materials is higher than recycled materials. Energy concerns brought recycling back to the forefront in terms of important environmental issues (“Recycling”).
Benefits of Recycling
Recycling helps not only the environment, but also has financial benefits. Recycling reduces stress on our natural resources. By reusing paper, metal, etc. it cuts down on the amount that needs to be harvested from the earth. Harvesting of timber, for example, places an incredible strain on the environment by causing erosion and water pollution. Logging operations are also putting a strain on local biodiversity. Thirty-seven percent of paper products in the US are now supplied with recycled paper (“Environmental Benefits of Recycling”),
The recycling of metal is also important. One ton of steel recycled saves 1,400 pounds on coal, 2,500 pounds of iron ore, and 120 pounds of limestone. The recycling of metals uses less energy than using raw materials. For example, the recycling of aluminum takes 95 percent less energy and recycled steels takes 60 percent less energy. Not only recycled metals have a reduction in the amount of energy. Recycled plastics required 70 percent less energy and recycled paper and glass requires 40 percent less energy (“Environmental Benefits of Recycling”).
In addition to the use of less energy, recycled materials produce less air and water pollution. Recycling reduces eight major categories of water pollutants and ten major categories of air pollutants (“Environmental Benefits of Recycling”). Higher power demands in the processing of raw materials also increase the amount of greenhouse gases that are given off into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide have been increasing exponentially since industrial times. They are believed to be causing global climate change (“Recycling”). In addition, recycling reduces the amount of trash in landfills and the amount of trash burned in incinerators (“Environmental Benefits of Recycling”).
Beside the environmental benefits, there are also economic benefits to recycling. Recycling creates more jobs than trash disposal in landfills. Every 10,000 tons of trash disposed of in a landfill creates six jobs, whereas every 10,000 tons of trash that is recycled creates 36 jobs. There are other external economic benefits such as resource conservation and reduced pollution and energy consumption, that are difficult to assign an economic value. Without the ability to assign a cost savings or economic value to these external economic benefits, it is hard to motivate individuals and industries to participate in recycling (“Recycling”).
Recycling Programs and Incentives
Encouraging recycling is not easy. It requires individuals or businesses to separate and deposit recyclable items either curbside or at community recycling facilities. Human nature does not encourage this behavior unless there is a benefit in it for the individual or business. It is not uncommon for recycling to actually cost the individual, rather than provide some monetary benefit. Many communities in the United States charge money to participate in curbside recycling programs. Drop off centers and buy-back centers also cost money to operate. When the economy is challenged, these facilities are often not cost effective (“Recycling”).
The government can impose mandatory recycling through many legal measures. Government can require recycling programs for businesses to get a business license and impose fines for individuals or businesses not complying with recycling codes. The government can also utilize a standard labeling standard for recyclable products in order to encourage recycling practices. When products are required to show if they are recyclable and/or how much recyclable content they have, consumers then have the choice to make more informed choices in purchasing products that are either recyclable or contain a percentage of recycled materials. Government contracts often require a certain amount of recycled products be used in development projects. The use of “price preference” programs can also encourage the use of recycled materials. These programs include economic incentives to use recycled products (“Recycling”).
When a product contains recycled components it will be termed either recycled-content product or a post-consumer content. A recycled-content product simply means it contains some recycled product in its production. A post-consumer content product however means the product only comes from recycled components. A recyclable product does not imply that any of the content comes from recycled materials, just that the product is recyclable (“Recycling Basics”).
Products are marked with certain symbols if they are recyclable. This helps consumers identify what products they purchase are recyclable. This labeling encourages recycling. Instead of packaging being disposed of in the trash, consumers are confident in the knowledge they cn recycle a product. Unfortunately, consumers are often not aware of the labeling or understand what the labeling means. More consumer education on recycling could increase knowledge and encourage more recycling (“Recycling Symbols Explained”).
Recycling Behavior
Humans react to incentives. The most effective way to change behavior is education, but also other incentives, especially financial, can influence human behavior. Everyone inherently wants to do the right thing. Recycling makes psychological sense, but can often cost the individual with time and labor to separate recyclables from the trash. Putting a deposit on glass or aluminum containers has been moderately successful in encouraging recycling. It gives consumers the economic incentive to return these containers to a recycling plant or store to be recycled. Governmental mandates can influence this behavior and encourage the individual to recycle. In Europe, recycling is required by law with a fine imposed if you dispose of recyclable materials in your general trash. Also, consumers are encouraged to use “life bags” since you are not provided bags at grocery stores. This increases the reuse of bags because of an economic cost. The “life bags” are made up of recycled plastic and require a one-time investment of about a dollar. This economic incentive has changed consumer behavior and reduced the use of non-recyclable bags at stores in Europe (pers. comm.).
Human behavior is a big part of recycling. Financial incentives are the most tempting for persuading people to recycle after government regulations. To make it easier for people to recycle is very important. In curbside programs where people did not have to separate recyclables into separate compartments or bags, recycling participation increased dramatically. Especially interesting was that recycling rates increased with increased knowledge of the participants in the community (Gamba and Oskamp, 587).
There has been a dramatic increase in the use of plastics since the 1960’s, yet recycling rates for plastics in the US are still only at about five percent. The increased usage of community recycling programs is starting to change this statistic. Education is of paramount importance in encouraging people to recycle. In the US, there is plenty of land area for landfills, so there is not any pressure to encourage recycling. Recycling is more of a nuisance than necessity (“Recycling”).
Conclusion
Recycling obviously has many environmental and economic benefits. Recycling reduces the amount of air and water pollutants. It also reduces the amount of energy necessary to convert materials into usable products which represents not only an economic benefit, but also an environmental benefit. The reduction in the amount of energy necessary to convert materials into products benefits air and water resources, but also has an important impact on levels of greenhouse gasses. Reducing the carbon dioxide load to the atmosphere is very important in combatting global climate change. Even an incremental decrease in carbon dioxide emissions due to recycling is very important.
Recycling also reduces the levels of many types of air and water pollution. This is not something everyday citizens think about, but it is still very important. It also reduces the amount of material put into landfills. In addition, recycling reduces the strain on our natural resources. It takes more energy to process raw ores than recycled products. Recycling also preserves vital natural resources and biodiversity,
The economic benefits of recycling are several. Recycling creates more jobs than simple trash disposal. Many governments give incentives for participating in recycling programs. The procurement of government contracts in the US are contingent on employing recycling programs. Increased use of economic incentives will help bolster the recycling movement in the US. Most states have discarded the deposit program on bottles and cans because of the cost of such programs. But, these programs encourage and promote recycling.
Overall, recycling is very important to the environment and society. More focus needs to be placed on the reuse and recycling of everyday items, especially with the increasing world population. Recycling is an emerging issue that deserves more attention.
Works Cited
“Environmental Benefits of Recycling.” DHEC Office of Solid Waste Management and Recycling (n.d.) Web. 28 Mar. 2013.
Gamba, R. and Oskamp, R. “Factors Influencing Community Residents' Participation in Commingled Curbside Recycling Programs.” Environment and Behavior 36,5 (1994):587-61.
"Recycling." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2013.
“Recycling Basics.” US Environmental Protection Agency, 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2013.
“Recycling Symbols Explained.” Recyclenow.com, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2013.
