Recycling Essay, Research Paper

Recycling is an ancient practice with many modern applications. It refers to the

recovery and reuse of materials from spent products. In recent years recycling

has become a major part of environmental policy, mainly because of the increased

costs of solid- and hazardous-waste disposal, the scarcity of natural resources,

and the growing concern over polluted land, water, and air. There are two types

of recycling operations: internal and external. Internal recycling is the reuse

in a manufacturing process of materials that are a waste product of that

process. Internal recycling is common in the metals industry. External recycling

is the reclaiming of materials from a product that has been worn out or

considered obsolete. An example of external recycling is the collection of old

newspapers and magazines for the manufacture of newsprint or other paper

products. In some areas, industries are required to pretreat wastewater before

it is funneled into a waterway. In homes, wastewater is sent to a

sewage-treatment plant, where it is purified, recycled, and put back into the

water-supply system. Many gardeners recycle organic, biodegradable kitchen

scraps by mixing them with leaves and grass clippings in a compost mound. There

the organic waste decomposes and is biochemically transformed into usable soil.

Successful recycling programs depend on several factors. There must be a general

awareness of the problems caused by solid-waste disposal and an effective,

inexpensive method for separating and collecting the recyclable materials. It

also must be economically possible for industries to use and market recycled

materials. In 1976 the United States Congress passed the Resource Conservation

and Recovery Act, encouraging states to formulate solid-waste recovery plans.

Many states set up special departments to assist local communities in their

recycling efforts. Some communities adopted legislation that gives consumers the

option of returning containers in exchange for a small deposit paid at the time

of purchase. In the United States, more than 150 million tons of solid waste are

generated every year. This amounts to more than 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) per

person per day. In metropolitan areas, the daily production of solid waste is

usually higher. Residents of New York City, for example, discard 26,000 tons of

solid waste daily almost 7 pounds (3.2 kilograms) for each resident. Domestic

recycling efforts usually involve the salvage of materials associated with

disposable products packages, bottles, and labels. The cost of disposing of the

solid-waste materials mainly paper, glass, aluminum, and steel has steadily

increased. In many cases the land used for garbage disposal, known as landfill

areas, is too valuable to use as a dumping ground. As existing landfills reach

their capacity, many municipalities turn to recycling programs as a relatively

inexpensive alternative to landfill disposal. Some cities also solve

energy-shortage problems and the need to dispose of growing amounts of organic

wastes and garbage by converting waste into energy. This is done by pyrolysis,

the incineration of refuse with a deficiency of air. While pyrolysis permits

recovery of certain fuel gases, chemicals, and heat energy, it can also

contribute to air pollution.