When we come across recycling, our minds tend to think that we are making the right choice for our planet Earth. Companies are not only designing plastic to be difficult or impossible to recycle, but the overwhelming flood of new plastic into the market prevents any chance of recycling keeping up. It turns out that that recycling does not have as many benefits for the environment as it seems. Recycling can also be financially costly to local governments. Besides, the most recycled materials end up getting shipped overseas to be processed, burning fossil fuels along the way. How to successfully help the environment? The real answer to the question is that the only way to solve the world’s plastic pollution crisis is to simply make less plastic.
There is a difference between things being recyclable and actually being recycled. (Westervelt, 2012) Unfortunately, not everything that’s “recyclable” actually gets recycled. Learning how to reduce, reuse, and recycle can help us, the community, and the environment by saving money, energy, and natural resources. Reduction and reuse are the most effective ways to preserve natural resources, protect the environment, and save money. The following are the advantages of reducing and reusing: Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to harvest new raw materials., Saves energy., Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change., It helps sustain the environment for future generations., Saves money., Reduces the amount of waste that will need to be recycled or sent to landfills and incinerators., Allows products to be used to their fullest extent. (www.epa.gov)
Some ideas that can help people to reduce and reuse is to buy used. For example, one can find everything from clothes to building materials. Often, used items are less expensive and just as good as new. Look for products that use less packaging. Buying in bulk, for example, can reduce packaging and save money. When manufacturers make their products with less packaging, they use less raw material by reducing waste and costs. These extra savings can be passed along to the consumers. Look for items that can be reused; the little things can add up. For example, one can bring their own silverware and cup to work, rather than to use disposable items. Maintain and repair products, like clothing, tires, and appliances, so that they will not have to be thrown out and replaced as frequently. Borrow, rent, or share items that are used infrequently, like party decorations, tools, or furniture. Last but not least, bring reusable bags/boxes to the store and avoid using excessive amounts of plastic bags.
Prevent usable goods from going into landfills by donating clothes, shoes, furniture. There is an old saying that goes by “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Recycling benefits not only the environment but also those who are in need. The most effective way to reduce waste is not to create it in the first place.
Reducing and Reusing Basics. (2019, November 25). Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-and-reusing-basics
Can Recycling Be Bad for the Environment? (2012, April 25). Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/amywestervelt/2012/04/25/can-recycling-be-bad-for-the-environment/#42a7a57c3bec
Recycling is Not Enough. (2018, January 30). Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.no-burn.org/recyclingisnotenough/
Tags: environment, environment blog
After we are done our “recyclable” materials, we tend to just throw them in the recycling bin without a care in the world of what actually happens to them after they leave our homes. Mentally we know we are recycling and trying to do good for our environment, but nobody thinks of the aftermath of what actually occurs, or the downsides/benefits to recycling versus reusing. The insight you provided has now officially made me realize I need to take a double take before I recycle some of my items.
I did my blog on climate change, and it is amazing how many things contribute to the overabundance of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. I didn’t even realize that recycling could be one of them. Obviously in order to recycle these items into new material, that requires a process and machines that all emit gases into the atmosphere. In hindsight, it sounds like we are doing the right thing so instead of spending more money on rebuilding new products, we can just take the old ones and do the same thing for less cost. But truly, is it really for less when we could actually be “hurting” our environment in the long run? Another thing that you mentioned, which I found interesting is that reusing reduces pollution. I find it fascinating that one of the biggest reasons people preach recycling in the environment is to reduce pollution. Yet recycling causes pollution in the air just from repurposing the raw material.
Just like everything else in the environment, just a little change can do wonders. Just by thinking twice about reusing versus recycling may go a long way in this world.
I couldn’t agree more; reusing should be new recycling. Especially because, as you point out, not all things that are recyclable are actually being recycled, and even if they do get recycled, it doesn’t mean that they magically cease to exist (they still occupy physical space). It’s just a fancy way of saying that those materials are getting shipped to poor countries so that they can deal with them. And although even recycling comes with environmental costs, compared to landfilling, recycling is clear environmental winner. However, waste prevention is even better (Denchak, 2018). We should all, in addition to recycling, reduce and reuse.
Zero waste concept, in my opinion, should be made into worldwide initiative. People should be educated (as one of the commentators suggested) on how to produce as little waste as possible, something that I myself, for instance, could very much benefit from. I must admit that I haven’t been very good reducer, although I’ve been moderately good re-user. If I walk or take a bike to the grocery store, I usually bring my backpack, trying to avoid taking plastic bags as much as possible. I also have a shopping bag made of cloth in my car for this same purpose. However, that is pretty much everything that I do when it comes to reducing and reusing; and I realize that it’s not enough. I haven’t really paid attention to items’ packaging, and how it might contribute to overall amount of trash produced. And I’m sure there are a lot more people like myself, who would like to act in environmentally-friendly manner, but sometimes they just don’t know how (and they can’t figure it out themselves).
References:
Denchak, M. (2018, July 31). Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Most of All, Reduce. http://www.nrdc.org. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/reduce-reuse-recycle-most-all-reduce
This was a really interesting post, as I had no idea recycling wasn’t nearly as good as I thought. We get this idea of recycling pushed down our throats, so I think a lot of people probably think recycling is the best option. It’s interesting because I was reading something recently about how much plastic is produced, even for things we wouldn’t expect. Plastic production is generally really bad for the environment, but what’s worse is a lot of plastic isn’t actually recyclable. Water bottles and grocery bags are recyclable, but there’s a LOT of other plastic out there that isn’t actually able to be recycled. So, not only is the production bad for the environment, but you can only dispose of a lot of it.
The idea of reusing items instead is a wonderful idea, theoretically. Reusable products, like bottles, instead of plastic bottles or reusable bags instead of plastic bags are awesome! The only real problem I see is that reusable products can be extremely expensive sometimes. This creates a problem for people of a lower socioeconomic status. Ideally, I’d like to see some way to lower these prices or offer products for free to people who can’t afford it. I believe this would help a lot of people reuse more.
Recycling has been misrepresented, and there has been a great deal of misinformation about recycling’s positive impact on the environment. Like diet coke being advertised as the “healthy” version of coke because it doesn’t contain sugar, only to find out that it actually contributes to an increase in calorie intake because people think it has no caloric impact. Recycling has lulled the population into a false sense of security in thinking that it’s okay to use single use plastic items because they are being “recycled”. As you pointed out, most of these items are not able to be recycled, and even if they are, it can create a negative financial impact for local communities. I wonder if people would use less plastic if they thought it was being put directly into our oceans and rivers, rather than rationalizing it in a way that eases their conscience.
I really believe that we should be focusing on education campaigns that emphasize the importance of reusing and minimizing waste production. These measures are the simplest and most cost effective ways to protect our environment. The zero waste concept has been gaining momentum with all the recent talks of climate change. Zero waste aims to “reduce what we need, reuse as much as we can, send little to be recycled, and compost what we cannot” (goingzerowaste.com). This zero waste movement has not only been growing within residential communities, but also the corporate sector due to the potential cost savings.
I really appreciated your practical and useful suggestions on ways to reuse and repurpose commonly used products. The more we can encourage one another to be creative in solving these issues, the more likely we are to adapt new behaviors. I sincerely hope that this momentum of environmental consciousness continues, and goes on to make a truly meaningful impact.
References
Going Zero Waste. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.goingzerowaste.com/
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2020). PSYCH 424 Lesson 4: The Environment. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2040175/modules/items/28379741
Zero Waste in Business. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://zerowasteeurope.eu/zero-waste-in-business/
Great article, I liked your suggestion about looking for less packing materials in things that you buy at the stores. I also liked your idea about bringing real silverware to work however, I know why I do not like to travel with my own dishes a really good silverware set for six it often 25 dollars and I get really annoyed when one or two go missing due to leaving the kitchen, the plates and cups are frequently made of ceramic thus easy to break on the road and a distraction from driving if you are eating while driving. And I dont have a place to wash them, and I dont want dirty dishes in my hopefully clean car. So I have another suggestion. I have noticed in many hotels they leave dishes and utensils in the cupboards and drawers, and just ask that you wash them when you are done. I think this would be great from many offices to implement as well in order to reduce refuge.