A Brief Note On Recycling

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Recycling

Recycling refers to the process of changing waste stuff into new products, with a focus on preventing waste into potentially useful materials, reducing energy usage, reducing water and air pollution, lower emissions of greenhouse gases, as well as reducing the use of unexploited raw materials. Recycling is a main component of modern waste management, and also a 3rd component of the recycle, reuse, and reduce waste hierarchy. In addition, there are various ISO standards that relate to recycling, including ISO 15270:2008 that regards to the plastic waste, as well as ISO 14001:2004 that regards to the environment management control through recycling practices (Morgan 109). Recycling materials include water, glass, metal, paper, textiles, electronics, as well as plastics. Although it is similar in effect, the reuse or composting of biodegradable waste, like the garden and food wastes, is also considered as recycling. The materials used for recycling are either collected from the curbside or brought to collection centers, on which they are subsequently sorted, refined, and reprocessed into useful materials aimed for manufacturing.

Recycling has been an ordinary practice in the history of human beings, with its evidence dating back to 400BC during Plato era. During the periods when materials and resources were scarce, archaeological studies regarding ancient waste dumps indicate less household wastes, including broken tools, pottery, and ash, which imply that more wastes were being recycled due to the absence of raw materials. During pre-industrial times, evidence indicates that scrap metals were collected in European countries and melted down for continuous reuse. The industrialization era create...

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... and other physical wastes. Although recycling could be regarded as more expensive as compared to producing products by use of raw materials, it is very cost effective in the long run since it enhances the welfare of today’s and the future generation, as well as embracing environmental sustainability. Essentially, lack of recycling could otherwise lead to increased garbage and trash places, which would otherwise be burnt, and thereby release more poisonous gases into the air (Morris 94).

Works Cited

Green, Jen. Recycling. North Mankato, MN: Stargazer Books, 2006. Print.

Hall, Eleanor J. Recycling. Farmington Hills, MI: KidHaven Press, 2005. Print.

Morgan, Sally. Waste, Recycling and Reuse. London: Evans, 2009. Print.

Morris, Neil. Recycling. Irvine, CA: QED Pub, 2008. Print.

Silverman, Buffy. Recycling: Reducing Waste. Chicago, Ill: Heinemann Library, 2008. Print.