Why Recycle

Many cricitcs of recycling point to the costs associated with collecting and sorting the waste, concluding that the costs do not exceed the benefits.

Often a cost-benefit analysis of recycling leaves out many of the benefits associated with recycling, so this brief article addresses the benefits of recycling commonly ignored by the critics.

First it should be noted that the practice of recycling has deep roots in many home, work and industry settings. The Steel Recycling Institute, for example, reminds us that steel ranks at the top of the material recycling list in the United States. Items such as cars, appliances and containers consistently get recycled for use in the cars, appliances and containers of the future.

Recycling steel makes sense because of the costs associated with producing steel, from the raw materials to the finished output.

Steel recycling advocates also cite the secondary costs of steel production, such as the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) production, which contributes to a changing climate, as key reasons for steel recycling.

In brief, the Steel Recycling Institute assumes that the steel recycling enterprise represents good long term, sustainable development planning.

The same reasoning can apply to recycling most materials.

Depending on the material in question, its production can require the use of chemicals, energy and a host of other less than environmentally friendly inputs.

Experts often approach the why recycle question by providing general categories as a means to provide their answers.

• Energy Savings: Almost all products require energy inputs in some form during the production process. Consider the aluminum in the common beverage can. Industry experts often cite over a 90% savings in energy costs when recycled cans replace new cans in beverage businesses.
  
  
• Reduced Pollution: The discussion can be further extended to include all the incidental costs associated with energy production. For example, if coal is used as the principle energy source for aluminum production, then the air pollution and greenhouse gases associated with coal burring power plants can also be calculated into a true cost of producing aluminum beverage cans. Recycling items whose production processes are water intensive can help reduce water pollution.
• Landfill Conservation: Waste management practices differ from state to state, however, the use of landfills for waste is a very common practice. Recycling helps conserve landfill space, leaving other areas open for other uses.
• Job Creation: In tough economic times, the issue of job creation becomes paramount. Product recycling literally creates thousands of jobs.

© 2006-2011 Patricia A. Michaels