Recycling is one of the greatest ways for you as an individual to make a positive impact on the planet. Recycling is crucial to both humans and the environment.
The volume of waste we create is constantly increasing, so we should act quickly:
- Economic growth means that people are purchasing more products and generating more waste.
- Population growth means that there are more people, who in turn create more waste.
- New technology and packaging are being developed, much of which is non-biodegradable.
- Fast food and other constantly evolving lifestyle habits create more non-biodegradable waste.
Recycling is crucial, because waste has a large negative influence on the environment.
- Destructive substances and greenhouse gases are constantly released from the trash in landfills. Recycling can help to reduce the size of the landfills.
- Deforestation leads to global warming and destruction of animal habitats. Recycling reduces the demand for raw materials, removing the need for deforestation.
- The production of raw materials takes sizeable amounts of energy. Recycling helps preserve natural resources because it uses less energy.
Recycling is important to urban areas worldwide.
- Landfill locations are quickly filling, leaving no space for new waste. By 2010, nearly all of the landfills in the UK will be completely full.
- There are economic benefits, as well. Creating products from raw materials is more expensive than using recycled products.
- The Earth and its resources need to be protected for future generations. Using recycled materials preserves the natural resources and uses less energy.