The Importance of Recycling

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Recommended: Why recycling has to be encouraged

You know when you’re walking down the street, drinking your bottled soft drink or water; as you go to throw the bottle away in the trash, have you notice how many of the items in the trash are recyclable. Current reports show that about 80% of the trash that is thrown away is recyclable. Recycling is the third “R” of the three “R’s”: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Recycling is defined as taking a product or material at the end of its useful life, and turning it into a usable raw material to create another product. According to Ivanhoe Broadcast News, each year the average American family throws out 2,460 pounds of paper, 540 pounds of metals, 480 pounds of glass and 480 pounds of food scraps. In conclusion the average American throws away more than 1,200 pounds of trash per year, far more than people in most other countries. I personally think that it is ridiculous how unaware and careless people are that they can’t throw an item into a different container, so it can be recycled. To a certain extent it is not just the publics’ fault; I personally believe that the government should set up and take control of the situation. Instead of sitting around as the world becomes more polluted. I believe there are many ways that we can improve this system.

For example: technology and electronics are a huge part of our culture and society. The “fast paced” nature of technology creates products that become outdate very quickly. Electronics not containing lead or mercury are very much recyclable. However, instead of recycling, people just throw these items away, not thinking ...

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... anything to help, we as a nation need to step up and support the cause. It is our future, so we must make something out of it.

Words Cited

Good Will statistics: http://www.wheremostneeded.org/2007/06/corprate_thinki.html

By “blog”

Broadcast News, Ivanhoe. “Re-using and recycling is beneficial.” News 8 Austin 06 August2006.

Cell phone statistics: http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/forums/cell_phone_culture.htm

By James Katz

Alumin Statistics: http://www.chymist.com/alum.pdf

By David A. Katz

Organic material statistics: http://www.co.allen.in.us/images/stories/Purdue%20CES/Horticulture/ach125.pdf

By Allen E. Boger

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