WHAT IS RECYCLING FOR: 10 IMPORTANT BENEFITS - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The serves recycling materials processing used or waste solids, making raw material for the manufacture of consumer goods. Producing goods from recycled materials uses less energy than conventional manufacturing processes. Therefore, it is a good way to control air and water pollution (Hill, 2009).

Recycling serves to treat environmental problems such as excess solid waste, contamination of water resources, air pollution, deforestation of forests and loss of biodiversity, among other fundamental factors related to the consumption of natural resources (Morgan, 2009).

The recycling process implies the generation of employment for the people in charge of treating the materials, and producing new articles derived from used materials. Municipalities and government offices can take advantage of solid waste management plans to generate jobs and investment opportunities.

The benefits of recycling are simple but effective and have a broad and positive effect on the environment, communities and economies of countries.

For this reason, many countries support the processes related to recycling and ensure that their inhabitants do not run into difficulties the moment they begin to contribute to the care and preservation of the environment.

In many countries, the authorities help households with special bags marked to carry out the correct separation of waste. In this way, the sorting process of used materials takes place from the source, making the work of subsequent waste disposal easier and more efficient.

What is recycling for? Main benefits

Environmental Protection

Recycling serves to protect the environment since it involves processes that allow the use of materials that, otherwise, would be burned or dumped in a sanitary landfill.

Both the burning of solid waste and their disposal in a sanitary landfill generate pollution of the air, land and water resources, affecting the fertility of the soils and the preservation of life.

When solid waste is not separated and recycled, it is incinerated in power plants. This energy that is produced from burning waste is used to generate electricity.

However, this process also results in the production of gases that go into the atmosphere. In addition, the ash must be disposed of in a special way so as not to contaminate the soil or water sources.

By reducing the amount of waste that must be disposed of in landfills or incinerated, the amount of gases, ash and materials that can contaminate the Earth is reduced. In this way, recycling serves to protect and conserve the planet's resources.

Conservation of natural resources

By recycling materials that have already been processed, and reincorporating them back into the industry, the consumption of raw materials and natural resources such as cellulose, oil and water, among others, is reduced.

In this way the manufacturing industry can subsist without depending on the exploitation of natural resources.

By recycling, used materials and waste can be turned into new products. In this way, it is avoided that new natural resources have to be taken from the Earth and transformed.

Recycling serves to avoid mining processes, deforestation and extraction of materials, since new products are born from used materials. All the processes involved with recycling help to conserve raw materials and natural habitats.

Energy saving

In traditional industrial processes, more energy is usually used. Therefore, those products made with recycled materials consume less energy during the manufacturing processes.

This means that more efficient processes can be carried out and the prices of products with recycled elements can be lower.

To produce a material with new raw materials requires that there be a high energy consumption from the moment of extraction of the material.

There are several associated processes that represent high energy consumption. For example extraction, refining and transportation. These treatments are unnecessary when the materials are made from recycled products.

Employment generation

To carry out the processes related to the recycling of solid waste, it is necessary to hire trained personnel to collect, separate and work in companies dedicated to the processing of recycled material.

Also, there are other jobs derived from recycling units that depend on them to exist, such as transporters, warehouse managers and material sellers (Guiltinan & Nonyelu G. Nwokoye, 2006).

The recycling process benefits all the people who are involved in it. The recycling industry is currently one of the largest in the world.

Once the materials are separated in the homes and deposited in the appropriate container for their disposal, it is necessary to transport them and handle them in the appropriate space for the subsequent disposal of these materials.

Thousands of workers are needed to handle the amount of recycled material that reaches the collection centers each day. In addition, new employees are hired every day to handle the material.

In this way, it is evident how recycling serves to generate more jobs within the communities, giving economic and labor stability locally.

It is estimated that to dump or incinerate a person's waste approximately six to seven people are needed, while if the waste is recycled, it takes at least thirty people, which allows the generation of more employment opportunities.

Minimization of the Sanitary Landfill Area

One of the biggest reasons recycling has been promoted is the reduction of environmental impact. By using solid waste in a constructive way, it is possible to reduce the size of landfills.

This process is carried out slowly, but in most cases it promises the recovery of the soils affected by the dumping of waste. (Agency, 2016)

With the rapid growth of the world's population, it is becoming increasingly difficult to control the amount of waste dumped in landfills. However, recycling serves to reduce the amount of waste that cannot really be used to produce new consumer items.

When landfill growth is excessive, air, water and soil quality suffers. It becomes difficult for limited terrain to contain the waste.

This fact leads to the poisoning of the land and health problems of the people who live near these spaces or must be in contact with the untreated waste. In this sense, recycling serves to reduce pollution levels and recover the land little by little.

Economic benefits

Recycling does not necessarily have to function as a non-profit process. Essentially, this process seeks to benefit the environment, however, it does not depend on the selfless sacrifice of people to protect natural resources.

There are several economic benefits offered by the government of different countries for those who undertake the work of recycling materials that can be used for the subsequent production of goods and services (Testa, 1997).

People who recycle and take aluminum cans, glass bottles and paper to the collection centers, receive money for this material.

In fact, in many countries, younger populations who do not have a work permit may choose to recycle as a way to make some money. Old newspapers, plastic and rubber items, metal parts, and even beer cans can all be sold for money.

Recycling doesn't just make money, it saves it too. The countries with the strongest economies are usually those with the toughest environmental policies.

This means that those countries that take care of their resources and exploit them responsibly are less likely to have to buy those resources from other countries. This implies a significant saving of money for different industries.

Every recycled object has an impact on the economy of a country. By reusing material that has already been processed, you contribute to the protection of forests, the conservation of mines and fossil fuels. This avoids the need to buy resources from other countries and allows the generation of employment locally, with which the economy can be boosted.

On the other hand, by reducing the size of landfills, the cost of maintaining land also decreases, and money previously spent on landfill maintenance can be invested in areas that can have a greater impact.

Use of Greener Technologies

The use of recycled materials has prompted industry and people to use "greener" technologies. During the last few years, many people have opted for the use of renewable energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal energy. In this way, pollution is also controlled.

Similarly, industrial processes for the treatment and transformation of recycled materials seek to favor the conservation of the environment.

Community Development

Recycling also serves to unite communities. In this sense, many individuals can come together to collect, classify and sell recycled material to collect funds for social causes or projects of schools and educational institutions (Silverman, 2008).

There are simple but significant programs that work to strengthen the community through the recycling of solid waste. The work and collective effort in favor of the correct disposal of waste has been beneficial for several communities since it allows them to remain clean and with a better quality of life.

On the other hand, those people who recycle are recognized as transforming agents of the world. A good strategy in the communities has been to educate children and empower them as those responsible for changing the world and caring for the environment.

Protection of biodiversity

Recycling serves to reduce the amount of raw material that is needed for the manufacture of consumer goods.

In this way, recycling contributes to the conservation of natural resources and prevents the loss of biodiversity, ecosystems and habitats of thousands of animal and plant species.

Soil erosion, water pollution, and even mining activities that endanger human life tend to decrease as waste is recycled.

Likewise, deforestation decreases, so endemic plant and animal species that depend on forests for survival can be protected.

Mining Reduction

One of the most dangerous activities for humans is mining. It is estimated that at least 40 miners die every day in the world and hundreds are injured.

Recycling serves to reduce the consumption of materials from mining by allowing the reuse of metals such as iron and steel. Recycling one ton of iron saves 2,500 pounds of iron, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone.

These savings not only seek to protect the environment, but also the populations located around the deposits of these minerals, since many times they must be brutally displaced in order to exploit the resources of the area (RecyclingCoalition, 2005).

Mining exploitation, in general terms, has caused the displacement of more than twenty million people and is considered one of the most important economic sources of illegal groups.

In this sense, recycling serves to reduce the demand for minerals, preserve the environment and protect human life.

References

1. Agency, EP (21 of 11 of 2016). Unites States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from Recycling Basics: epa.gov.
2. Guiltinan, JP, & Nonyelu G. Nwokoye. (2006). Developing Distribution Channels and Systems in the Emerging Recycling Industries. International Journal of Physical Distribution, 28-38.
3. Hill, T. (2009). The Everything Green Classroom Book: From recycling to conservation, all you need to create an eco-friendly learning environment. Avon: Everything Series.
4. Morgan, S. (2009). Waste, Recycling and Reuse. London: Evans Brothers Limited.
5. RecyclingCoalition, N. (2005). Recycling Revolution. Obtained from Recycling Benefits: The many reasons why: recycling-revolution.com.
6. Silverman, B. (2008). Recycling: Reducing Waste. Heinemann Library.
7. Testa, SM (1997). The Reuse and Recycling of Contaminated Soil. New York: Lewis Publishers.