That in turn lessens the harmful disruption and damage being done to the natural world: fewer forests cut down, rivers diverted, wild animals harmed or displaced, and less pollution of water, soil and air. And of course if our plastic waste isn't safely put in the recycling, it can be blown or washed into rivers and seas and end up hundreds or thousands of miles away, polluting coastlines and waterways and becoming a problem for everyone.
The world's increasing demand for new stuff has led to more of the poorest and most vulnerable people for example, those living around forests or river systems being displaced from their homes, or otherwise exploited.
Forest communities can find themselves evicted as a result of the search for cheap timber and rivers can be damned or polluted by manufacturing waste.
It's far better to recycle existing products than to damage someone else's community or land in the search for new raw materials. Making products from recycled materials requires less energy than making them from new raw materials. Sometimes it's a huge difference in energy. For example:. Because recycling means you need to use less energy on sourcing and processing new raw materials, it produces lower carbon emissions. It also keeps potentially methane-releasing waste out of landfill sites.
Reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere is vital for stopping disastrous climate change. Lambeth council in London pointed out that "it is 6 times cheaper to dispose of recycled waste than general refuse.
Recycling food waste and green waste is a great idea too, often generating lots of valuable compost that can be used to grow more food and other crops.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused devastation in all areas of our lives, including employment. There are over , young people aged out of work, and numbers are expected to grow substantially with the end of the furlough scheme.
For more information, check out the full report. Skip to main content. Related Topics: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Contact Us. On this page: Benefits of Recycling Steps to Recycling Materials Recycling Creates Jobs Benefits of Recycling Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators Conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals Increases economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials Saves energy Supports American manufacturing and conserves valuable resources Helps create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States Steps to Recycling Materials Recycling includes the three steps below, which create a continuous loop, represented by the familiar recycling symbol.
Step 1: Collection and Processing There are several methods for collecting recyclables, including curbside collection, drop-off centers, and deposit or refund programs.
Common Recyclables After collection, recyclables are sent to a recovery facility to be sorted, cleaned and processed into materials that can be used in manufacturing. Step 2: Manufacturing More and more of today's products are being manufactured with recycled content. Common household items that contain recycled materials include the following: Newspapers and paper towels Aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers Steel cans Plastic laundry detergent bottles Recycled materials are also used in new ways such as recovered glass in asphalt to pave roads or recovered plastic in carpeting and park benches.
Step 3: Purchasing New Products Made from Recycled Materials You help close the recycling loop by buying new products made from recycled materials. When you go shopping, look for the following: Products that can be easily recycled Products that contain recycled content Below are some of the terms used: Recycled-content product - The product was manufactured with recycled materials either collected from a recycling program or from waste recovered during the normal manufacturing process.
The label will sometimes include how much of the content was from recycled materials. Post-consumer content - Very similar to recycled content, but the material comes only from recyclables collected from consumers or businesses through a recycling program.
Seeking products and packaging that are as toxic free. Redesigning products to use less raw material in production, have a longer life, or be used again after its original use. Re-Use Use durable coffee mugs. Refill bottles. Reuse boxes. Purchase refillable pens and pencils. Participate in a paint collection and reuse program. Use cloth napkins or towels. Donate old magazines or surplus equipment. Turn empty jars into containers for leftover food.
Recycle Recycling prevents the emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants, and saves energy. Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants.
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