Everyone should play their part in recycling, not just here in Canada but all over the world. Recycling plays a major role in society and we need to do it to help save our planet as well. Unfortunately, even in countries like Canada, many people still do not recycle. That being said, imagine how many people all over the world may also not be recycling, especially in third world countries where a lack of education on such matters will play a big role.
In fact, even in developed countries, people throw out stuff that can actually be used. This too may be down to a lack of knowledge or it could just be sheer irresponsibility. Let’s take a closer look at what recycling is and some interesting facts associated with it.
1. Office Paper
It is estimated that an average office worker will make over 150 pounds of waste annually! More than half of that can be attributed to paper products, which are recyclable. If recycled, this paper waste can be turned into new paper for the office.
2. Cardboard
A cardboard box is one of the most recycled items with a very high recovery rate percentage. The good thing about cardboard boxes is that they can contain as much as 100% recycled fibers.
3. Newspapers
More than 30,000 trees are cut down every day in order to produce the newsprint for the country’s daily newspapers! This is why it is imperative that newspapers are recycled. Mining clay soils enables the making of newsprint pulp, so recycling newspapers and magazines reduces the need for such mining. New newsprint is made from the old, so if you are doing the crossword today, it could have been the sports section from three months back!
4. Glass
Glass takes around a million years to break down when it is tossed into the landfill. All of that glass that’s tossed into the landfill could have been used to make new jars and bottles. It can even be used for fiberglass and as part of the material in sidewalks and even roads.
5. Aluminum
It is estimated that recycling a single aluminum can would save enough energy to power a TV for about 3 hrs! Aluminum takes about 5 centuries to break down if tossed in a landfill.
6. Steel
It is thought that water consumption can be halved if recovered steel is used in order to make new steel. When steel breaks down naturally, it can take approximately a century.
Recycling is the process of converting “waste” into something that can be used again to make new products. It is a simple philosophy, but there are important and complex steps involved. Each of us must do our part to separate true garbage from recyclable material. This is then collected and sorted properly and taken for recycling, not just here in Canada, but it is sent to recycling companies and recycling stations around the globe.
These companies use the collected materials to make new products, thereby conserving resources. We get the ball rolling and it comes full circle when we buy recycled items. We need to buy recycled merchandise to make sure that companies can carry on this process.
As you can see, recycling is so very important so that we use less resources and not deplete Mother Earth. Not everyone will recycle which is why it is vital that as many of us do so to counter this.