Recycling is defined as “the process of making or manufacturing new products from a product that has originally served its purpose” (Dictionary.com), which simply means reusing old things and process them to produce new useful items. Recycled aluminum cans can be melted down and created into new aluminum cans or parts of bicycles (Recycle Everywhere). Recycling is known to be beneficial to the environment. It uses less energy to create new materials, prevents pollution by reducing the need to gather new raw materials, and conserves natural resources such as water, oil, minerals, and gas.
While recycling has been implemented in the United States for about 70 years, starting in the 1940s, it is still optional. Americans regard recycling as more …show more content…
The reduction of landfill waste can reach to 75% of the 175 million tons of trash generated in the United States, according to a report created by Tellus Institute, an institute dedicated to recycling. About 60% of trash generated by Americans goes to landfills in the United States (Kulpinski) due to the ineffective recycling laws in the United States. Around 9,800 different local recycling plans operate in the United States, according to E.B., the Economist writer. Landfill wastes are known to be environmental hazardous due to Carbon Dioxide and Methane gas production: they contain 50% of Carbon Dioxide and 40-45% of Methane gas (EPA website). Landfill wastes also elevate the levels of Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide, which can cause breathing difficulties for people who live near the landfills. If all states require people to recycle at home, recycling would be maximized, reducing the amount of landfill wastes thus decreasing the environmental pollution caused by them. Switzerland proves mandatory recycling laws would reduce the volume of landfill wastes. Only 22% of waste goes to landfills in Switzerland because of its mandatory laws that requires people to separate wastes by its type and applies fines on people who are not following the recycling laws …show more content…
They create local environmental jobs that cannot be outsourced or sent overseas, such as transporting the recycled items from residential houses to recycling facilities, sorting the recycled items, and managing the recycling program (Bureau of Labor Statistics). A case study in San Francisco, where mandatory recycling laws are implemented, shows that 1118 new workers are employed to sort recyclable and monitor the collection routes. Families who have a source of income can contribute to the community by spending their income to buy goods and supplies. The act of spending boosts the economic activity, thus benefits the community. Which is why the new job opportunities created from the mandatory recycling programs would actually benefit the
While recycling has been implemented in the United States for about 70 years, starting in the 1940s, it is still optional. Americans regard recycling as more …show more content…
The reduction of landfill waste can reach to 75% of the 175 million tons of trash generated in the United States, according to a report created by Tellus Institute, an institute dedicated to recycling. About 60% of trash generated by Americans goes to landfills in the United States (Kulpinski) due to the ineffective recycling laws in the United States. Around 9,800 different local recycling plans operate in the United States, according to E.B., the Economist writer. Landfill wastes are known to be environmental hazardous due to Carbon Dioxide and Methane gas production: they contain 50% of Carbon Dioxide and 40-45% of Methane gas (EPA website). Landfill wastes also elevate the levels of Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide, which can cause breathing difficulties for people who live near the landfills. If all states require people to recycle at home, recycling would be maximized, reducing the amount of landfill wastes thus decreasing the environmental pollution caused by them. Switzerland proves mandatory recycling laws would reduce the volume of landfill wastes. Only 22% of waste goes to landfills in Switzerland because of its mandatory laws that requires people to separate wastes by its type and applies fines on people who are not following the recycling laws …show more content…
They create local environmental jobs that cannot be outsourced or sent overseas, such as transporting the recycled items from residential houses to recycling facilities, sorting the recycled items, and managing the recycling program (Bureau of Labor Statistics). A case study in San Francisco, where mandatory recycling laws are implemented, shows that 1118 new workers are employed to sort recyclable and monitor the collection routes. Families who have a source of income can contribute to the community by spending their income to buy goods and supplies. The act of spending boosts the economic activity, thus benefits the community. Which is why the new job opportunities created from the mandatory recycling programs would actually benefit the