Recycling

• What is Recycling?
• Function
• Ways to recycle
• Uses
• Safety precautions
• Facts
• House hold costs
• Useful devices

What is Recycling?

We are supposed to rule over and subdue the earth. This means we should manage our world with wisdom and diligence.

Function

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise end up as trash, and then turning them into new products. By recycling, we achieve several important goals:

Benefits

1. Environmental Benefits:
   • Conserving Natural Resources: Recycling reduces the need to extract raw materials such as timber, water, and minerals for new products.
   • Mitigating Climate Change: In 2018, recycling and composting of municipal solid waste saved over 193 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
   • Energy Savings: Recycling conserves energy; for instance, recycling just 10 plastic bottles can power a laptop for more than 25 hours.
   • Waste and Pollution Reduction: Diverting waste from landfills and incinerators reduces harmful pollution and emissions.
2. Economic Impact:
   • Recycling and reuse activities in the United States account for jobs, wages, and tax revenues. In a single year, they contributed to 681,000 jobs, $37.8 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in tax revenues.
3. Community and International Considerations:
   • Environmental Justice: Recycling provides healthier and more sustainable alternatives to waste management facilities concentrated in underserved communities.
   • Global Impact: Waste generated in the United States affects other countries, as recycled materials are exported to places that may not manage them environmentally soundly.

While recycling offers significant advantages, it’s essential to consider its disadvantages as well. Let’s explore some of the drawbacks:

Drawbacks

1. More Pollution and Energy Consumption:
   • Recycling processes, transportation, and sorting can generate greenhouse gases and consume energy.
   • The overall impact depends on the specific materials and methods used.
2. Result in Pollutants:
   • Some recycling processes release pollutants into the environment.
   • For instance, incinerating certain materials can produce harmful emissions.
3. Increased Processing Cost and Low-Quality Jobs:
   • Implementing recycling programs can be expensive.
   • Additionally, jobs in recycling facilities may be low-paying or involve hazardous conditions.
4. Require Stricter Implementation:
   • Effective recycling requires proper sorting and contamination prevention.
   • Without strict adherence, the quality of recycled materials may suffer.
5. Good Products Are Not Guaranteed:
   • Recycled products may not always match the quality of their original counterparts.
   • Variability in recycled materials can affect product performance.
6. Generally Ineffective:
   • Despite recycling efforts, a significant portion of waste still ends up in landfills or incinerators.
   • Achieving high recycling rates remains a challenge.

In summary, recycling benefits our environment, economy, and communities, making it an essential practice for a healthier planet and future generations.

Ways to recycle

Firstly, it’s essential to understand what materials can be recycled. Common recyclables, such as paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, and glass, should go into your recycling bin for curbside pickup. Moreover, rinsing plastic and glass items before adding them to the bin helps prevent contamination. However, certain items—like food, alcohol, wood, clothing, and foam—should be discarded rather than recycled, as they can render the entire bin unrecyclable. Additionally, sorting recyclables (if required by local laws) ensures that similar items stay together, making processing more efficient. Furthermore, consider avoiding plastic bags for recyclables; instead, use designated recycling bags or find specific locations for plastic bag recycling. Remember to follow your city’s recycling guidelines to maximize the impact of your recycling efforts!

Uses

1. Recycled Plastic Bottles: Plastic bottles can be transformed into various items, including plastic lumber for park benches, picnic tables, lawn furniture, and even playground equipment.
2. Enameled Cookware from Recycled Cast Iron: Brands like Shades of Green create beautiful cookware using 40% recycled cast iron. They also offer blankets and kitchen utensils made from recycled materials.
3. Recycled Fibers: Sustainable fashion brands use recycled fibers to create clothing, accessories, and home goods. For example, 2°EAST makes watches with interchangeable NATO straps from 100% post-consumer recycled PET (RePET).
4. Recycled Glass Countertops: These countertops are made from melted-down recycled glass, creating a solid surface that’s both functional and eco-friendly.
5. Recycled Denim: Old denim jeans can be repurposed into fabulous jean planters, adding a unique touch to your garden or backyard decor.
6. Recycled Paper Notebooks: Opt for notebooks made from recycled paper to reduce waste and support sustainable practices.
7. Recycled Glass Bottle Vases: Turn old glass bottles into charming vases for your home decor.
8. Recycled Furniture: Brands create furniture pieces using reclaimed wood, recycled metals, and other materials. Look for sustainable options that fit your style and needs.
9. Recycled Backpacks and Bags: Fashion-worthy totes and handbags can be crafted from old leather jackets or other recycled materials.

Safety precautions

When it comes to recycling safety, here are some essential precautions to keep in mind:

1. Follow Local Guidelines: Always adhere to local instructions regarding what can and cannot go into recycling bins. This helps reduce the risk of handling non-recyclable materials and ensures a safer process.
2. Avoid Hazardous Materials: Never place dangerous items in recycling bins. Items like needles, broken glass (from light bulbs), and other sharp objects can pose serious risks to workers.
3. Traffic Safety: Be cautious around moving vehicles in recycling facilities. Follow traffic rules and stay aware of your surroundings to prevent accidents.
4. Machine Safety: Pay attention to moving machine parts. Unexpected machine startup can be hazardous. Follow proper procedures when operating machinery.
5. Lifting Techniques: Use proper lifting techniques to avoid strain or injuries. Lift with your legs, not your back, and seek assistance for heavy items.
6. Slips and Trips: Keep work areas clean and dry to prevent slips and trips. Proper footwear and good housekeeping practices are essential.

Facts

1. Recycling Hierarchy: Remember the three Rs—reduce, reuse, and recycle. Recycling is a crucial part of waste management, but reducing and reusing come first.
2. Annual Waste Production: Americans produce over 200 million tons of waste each year.
3. Diaper Disposal: In the U.S., over 20 billion diapers are discarded each year, contributing to waste.
4. Plastic: Only about 5% of all plastics in the U.S. are actually recycled.
5. Plastic Bottles: People in the U.S. discard 2.5 million plastic bottles per hour, each taking 500 years to decompose.
6. Energy Savings: Recycling paper requires 70% less energy than making it from raw materials.
7. Historical Recycling: In the late 1800s, peddlers acted as early recyclers, collecting reusable items to sell.
8. Ocean Pollution: Approximately 46,000 pieces of plastic float in every square mile of our oceans.
9. E-Waste: Every year, over 50 million tons of electronic waste (e-waste) is created globally.
10. Plastic Bag Usage: Worldwide, people use an estimated 1 trillion plastic bags, equivalent to 100 million barrels of oil.
11. Disposable Products: Some companies design products to be disposable, impacting waste generation.
12. Aluminum Can: All the aluminum cans recycled worldwide in 2010 would circle the Earth 169 times.
13. Eco-Friendly Coffins: A British company offers coffins made from 100% recycled paper.
14. Styrofoam Persistence: Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) may never fully decompose.
15. Plastic Waste: The world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic waste annually.

Household Cost

Useful devices

Genesis 1:28

Genesis 8:22