Why Recycle?
Recycling may not be the only way to reduce the human impact on the environment but it is one of the most effective and one of the easiest ways to make a difference. But what are the benefits of recycling? Well, there are many. Listed below are only a few good reasons why everyone should take a few minutes to learn which products/materials can be recycled and how.
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Recycling reduces exploitation of natural resources. Reclamation and reprocessing of recyclables into new products reduces the need for raw materials. For example, paper recycling helps save trees because virgin paper is made from wood pulp. Also, fewer ores need to be mined to produce metals by using recycled metals. And since most natural resources are non-renewable which means that they are not available in unlimited amounts, it is crucial to preserve as many as possible for the future generations.
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Recycling lowers energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. A lot less energy is needed to make new products from recycled than from raw materials. For example, 95% less energy is used to make new products from recycled aluminium than from virgin material. And by using less energy, recycling also lowers emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are contributing to climate change by increasing the Earth’s temperature.
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Recycling helps preserve wildlife habitats. Since recycling reduces the need for exploitation of natural resources, fewer forests are cut down, fewer mines are needed to extract ores rich with metals and other resources, … In short, recycling reduces human activities in the environment, helping preserve the nature for wild species.
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Recycling reduces the pressure on the landfills. The majority of products/materials that are thrown away on a daily basis can be recycled and reused. And the more waste materials are recycled and reused, less waste ends up in landfills. This doesn’t only keep the landscape visually pleasing but also reduces potentially serious contamination of soil and groundwater. But it also reduces the amount of various gases that are emitted in landfill including some very toxic and dangerous ones that are released into the air during decomposition.
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Recycling is good for the economy. Recovering and reprocessing recyclables has given rise to the so-called recycling industry that creates income from buying, recycling and reselling but it also creates new jobs.