Recycling Programs

1500 Words3 Pages

Environmental pollution has been a major concern to many stakeholders due to the related adversities that are associated with the practice. Human beings in general are well known to like having comfort and convenience at the minimum costs possible. The results of this has been the focus on the short term gains with little or no thought spared for the long term consequences of our behavior. Environmental problems are usually long term and the solution to these problems will only be realized at a higher cost if the remedy is not initiated early enough. Management of solid waste has come with a lot of challenges especially when recycling issues come to board. Solid waste management through recycling is something that has to do with behavior change among the population. According to environmental psychologists, recycling has been referred to as a ‘commons dilemma’. This means that natural resources are being overused due to the existing conflict between individual and group interests. Nevertheless, the government has taken center stage in conservation of the environment through the initiation of the recycling programs.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of having federal and state agencies including the military being involved in recycling programs that includes the provision of rewards and incentives for those achieving recycling goals on one side, and punitive measures for those for not recycling.

Recycling:

Recycling has been identified as the best model of managing solid waste in the interest of the public. Reuse of resources has been hailed by most people and therefore there is a need to change the attitudes of individuals in an effort to encourage recycling as a solid waste management strategy. Recyclin...

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