Informative Speech About Recycling

I. Introduction

A. Everyone take a look around you and notice all of the things in this room that are recyclable. From the sheets of paper on your desk to the drink containers you are utilizing, whether they be of glass, plastic, or aluminum. (attention-getter)

B. According to the book, Recycle It! Once is not enough, “The world is filling up with garbage!” (Kallen 5) Each one of us are the only ones who can do something about this. Personally, since I began recycling, I have noticed that when trash day rolls around I put out half as much trash on the curb than before I started recycling. (credibility)

C. I’m positive that if everyone here committed themselves to recycling that they too would see the same results. (common ground)

D. It

is important to our sustainability that everyone does their part to make the environment we live in here on Earth a better place to live for future generations by recycling. (Thesis)

E. I would like for everyone to begin their recycling journey today and continue to recycle on a daily basis. (action step)

F.

I’ll cover three things today: the effects of recycling on our environment, what types of items are recyclable, and how easy it is to recycle. (Preview)

Transition: I will begin by talking about how recycling affects our environment.

II. Body

A. In speaking with my mother, I learned how so much more efforts could be made towards environment a better place. She told me how things were done when she grew up. (narrative)

1. My mother grew up in the outskirts of Frankfurt, Germany.

2. In her time living in Germany, the residents seemed to make a great effort in recycling and repurposing things.

a. Curbside pick-up of recyclable items was always present.

b. Each house used to have a separate waste can for the food waste provided by the city and one every two to three weeks a truck would came and empty the food waste can.

c. It would then be utilized by the farmers for their stock of animals. This would in turn put less waste in the landfills and would also save the farming industry money.

d. These types of things should be mandatory in our country as well.

3. According to the book, Design for a livable planet, “,The US generates 160 million tons of solid waste a year—enough to fill a line of 10-ton garbage trucks half way to the moon.” (Naar

15)
a. When trash is brought to landfills it pollutes our water. Some people would say, then I’ll burn my trash. If trash is being burned it then pollutes the air we breathe. We need to make every effort to put less pollution in our landfills and in our air by recycling everything possible.
b. Once again, Design for a livable planet, states that “Recycling just one Sunday edition of the New York Times would save a forest of 75000 trees.” (Naar 15)
4. Recycling saves energy. According to the article, Future of Recycling, “Products made with recycled material often require far less energy than making the same products with virgin content.” (Weeks) Using less energy causes less pollution in our environment.

Transition: Now that you have heard a little bit on how recycling affects our environment, I will move on to informing you of what types of items are recyclable.

B. As I began recycling myself, I was unaware of just how many things are recyclable.
1. According to the National Recycling Coalition, as stated in the Future of recycling article, “the top recyclable items are: aluminum, plastic bottles, newspaper, cardboard, steel cans, glass containers, magazines, mixed paper, and computers.” (Weeks)
2. Did you know that disposing of batteries improperly leads to the poisons in the battery to leak into our lakes, streams, and rivers? Instead purchase a battery recharger and rechargeable batteries. (Kallen)

Transition: Even though you may think it is difficult to recycle, I am going to let you know how truly simple it is.
C. Recycling is simple. Recycling is quick. Recycling is fun for the whole family. (anaphora)
1. Recycling is just as easy as throwing away your trash. You just need to put it in a separate container.
a. Some trash companies offer pick up of your recyclables. If they don’t, you just need to bring them to your local recycling facility.
b. You are not even required to separate your recyclables any more in some places. If you do not to separate, I’m sure that would be something fun for your little ones to help with.

Transition: After hearing all of this information I have provided, I would like to ask everyone to do me one favor.

III. Action Step: I would like for everyone to begin their recycling journey today and continue to recycle on a daily basis. (action step).
A. If you don’t join in on the recycling efforts, our environment will continue to deteriorate.
B. If you are already an avid recycler, keep up the good work.

Transition: I want to conclude today by reinforcing the information provided to you today. (signal close)
.
IV. Conclusion
A. I have covered three main things relating to recycling: the effects on our environment, what constitutes as a recyclable item, and how easy it is to recycle.(review)
B. It is important to our sustainability that everyone does their part to make the environment we live in here on Earth a better place to live for future generations by recycling. (restate thesis)
C. I would like for everyone to begin their recycling journey today and continue to recycle on a daily basis. (action step)

D. According to an article titled, "Recycling increases chance of healthy environment”, “Each year in the U.S., people produce 250 million tons of trash, enough to cover the state of Texas twice, according to thinkprogress.org. Of the items people throw away, 80 percent are recyclable, but we only recycle 28 percent.” (UWIRE) Let’s do something to change these pitiful statistics. (clincher)