Recycling is the recovery and reuse of materials from used products. There are two types of recycling operations: internal and external. Internal recycling operations generally exist within manufacturing and processing plants. Waste materials from a manufacturing process are reclaimed for reuse within the same process. External recycling is the reclamation of used materials, such as paper, for reuse in material production. Everyone can contribute to external recycling.

Recycling is an important means by which both businesses and individuals can reduce the quantity of waste they generate, to reduce the negative environmental impact of that waste, and to have a positive impact on the world in which we all live. In recent times, recycling and the negative environmental impact of waste has become a major political issue and central part of broader environmental policy.

Using recycled materials helps arrest the depletion of non-renewable resources such as metals, oils and natural gas. Reducing the demand for fresh stores of non-renewable resources in turn reduces the need for new mining and drilling operations, which in turn reduces the negative impact on innumerable diverse ecosystem. Generally, it takes less energy to make products from recycled materials than with virgin raw material. For instance, it takes a significantly greater effort to mine and extract aluminium ore to make, say, a saucepan than it would to make the same saucepan from recycling already extracted materials such as aluminium cans. It also costs a good deal less to generate the same item from recycled materials since the expensive mining and extraction phase is eliminated.

Recycling helps reduce pollution from energy generation. Much of the world’s energy is still generated from burning fossil fuels. Using less energy means generating less water and air pollution, and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases linked to global warming. Other forms of pollution are also reduced. Reduced industrial run-off from mines and farms, soil erosion and the toxic chemicals released when raw materials are processed. Greater wealth has led to greater consumption, particularly in the western world, but increasingly among the world’s developing economies. Greater consumption leads to increased waste that must be disposed of within the same finite restrictions dictated by landfill.

Continued growth in the world population growth also means greater consumption of goods which in turn means greater waste production. Recycling reduces landfill. Waste that goes into landfill sites sits there for a long time. Eventually, it breaks down, releases greenhouse gases such as methane, and can release pollutants in to the water table. Keeping recyclable materials out of landfill sites helps keep air and water cleaner and reduces the need to find more landfill sites.

Finally, recycling has a positive impact on the economy of most countries. The recycling industry in the US alone is worth several hundred billion dollars per annum, and growing, and employs over one million workers. Recycling is an important way in which we can all contribute to providing a clener, better world for future generations to enjoy.

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