Recycling

by Mackenzie Creasman

Recycling is becoming increasingly expensive and uncommon. This crisis is strange considering the benefits of recycling, and the negative effects of plastic when not disposed of in a sustainable manner. Our planet’s health has declined, meaning the need for recycling is higher than ever.

Recycling is increasing in cost because of the garbage that is thrown into the recycling bins. Removing the trash from recycling costs money, so recyclables are now priced higher. Therefore, manufacturers are not inclined to use them. The nonprofit organization Recycle Across America explains that “Contamination is a direct result of: 1) millions of inconsistent and confusing labels on recycling bins throughout society, 2) confusion about what is actually recyclable at a given bin, and 3) the lack of national messaging about the importance of recycling right.”

Recycling is simple when done correctly, but because of the lack of recycling education, a lot of people do not understand how to do it. Recycling confusion makes it inconvenient for the recycler as well as the people who have to pay for it. If recycling was given national attention and was clearly labeled and understood, the price for recyclables would most likely decrease. Recycling seems simple; most people know it is good for the environment, but they don’t understand its true importance.

One reason recycling is essential is that it reduces the amount of waste that is sent to landfills, in turn reducing our carbon footprint, a contributor to climate change and air pollution. Another example of recycling benefits is the decrease of pollution and the conservation of energy. Creating new products instead of reusing old ones requires more energy and fossil fuels. These products will go to landfills, propelling climate change and other environmentally dangerous results further. The cycle will continue until we run out of fossil fuels and materials as they are not infinite. Also, recycling helps protect marine and wildlife from becoming littered with potentially harmful plastics.

To put it in statistical perspective, “When U.S. recycling levels reach 75% it will be the environmental and CO2 equivalent of removing 55 million cars from U.S. roads each year,” according to Recycle Across America. Recycling is a multi-billion dollar industry, so it creates numerous jobs, and helps support our economy.

Recycling opens up many advantages for our environment and economy, both of which need to be sustained for a long time. If they are not sustained, it will lead to a loss of resources and the eventual fall of our earth and the human population.

It isn’t too late to start being environmentally conscious, and it also isn’t very hard. Try slightly cutting down water usage to simply putting your water bottles in a different bin, or cutting out the use of plastic water bottles entirely. This is our home, why ruin it for the sake of convenience? Recycling should be a national priority. We have to make certain sacrifices in the name of greater good.