The Recycling Of Recycling

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Recommended: Recycling and its effect on the environment

My paper envelope is recyclable and I am putting the envelope to the recycling trash bin. However, the recycling of the paper is commonly known as downstream cycling, meaning that the paper can only be recycled for a certain amount of times and the quality of the paper decreases gradually. Therefore, my paper envelope would eventually arrive at an incinerator and the ashes might go to a landfill. The incineration will produce dioxins and other toxic gases which pollute the air. Moreover, the ashes, after burning, remain highly toxic and are sent to landfills which often leach to surrounding water body as well as soil.
The process of incineration involves sorting the trash, burning the trash, capturing the waste gases and disposing the ashes. The main composition of paper envelope is cellulose which burns …show more content…

The heavy metal that leaks from the landfill will accumulate in the soil, causing erosion (Raymond 2011). The lead, mercury, arsenic and chromium blocks the air from entering the soil and decrease the plant roots ‘ability of absorb water and nutrients (Raymond 2011). Zinc has negative effect on microorganisms in the soil and therefore it interrupts the decomposition of organic matters. Moreover, various heavy metals accumulate differently in plantations (Raymond 2011). For example, lead accumulates more in the leaves of the plants and arsenic is found mostly in the fruits of the plants (Raymond 2011). These metals all have direct and indirect effects on human health. For example, lead poisons interference with brain development and causes irreversible neuro-damages. Arsenic is usually associated with skin erosion and circulatory issues. Cadmium has the ability to disrupt or disable certain essential enzymes in living organisms and causes renal damages. The heavy metals, leaking out from the landfill will pollute the soil and eventually harm all living organism on the land, including

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