Recycling is a form of waste management that involves converting waste into reusable products. It helps reduce energy consumption, consume fresh raw materials, reduce air pollution and water pollution (due to landfill) by reducing the need for traditional waste disposal, as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To fully understand the concept of recycling, it is essential to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this process.
Waste that can be recycled includes:
- Plastic: which includes water bottles, plastic bags, plastic packaging and rubber bags
- Glass: Glass products that can be recycled include wine and beer bottles and broken glass
- Paper: such as magazines, newspapers, books, envelopes and cardboard
- Metals: like empty cans of tomatoes, sodas and fruit
Other waste that can be recycled includes textiles, tires and electronic products. Contact a waste management recycling specialist to take care of your solid waste.
The main benefits of recycling
Recycling minimizes pollution
All forms of pollution in the modern world emanate from industrial waste. Recycling these industrial wastes, such as plastics, cans and chemicals, goes a long way in reducing pollution levels because these wastes are reused instead of just being thrown away carelessly.
Protects the environment
The great advantage of waste recycling is that it plays a great role in environmental protection in the most balanced way. Although many trees are cut down every day, recycled paper made from specific trees is continually used to reduce deforestation. This classic example demonstrates that other natural resources can be recycled and made useful to preserve the environment.
Recycling minimizes global warming
During waste disposal, huge quantities of materials are burned, leading to the emission of vast greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen, which contribute to climate change and global warming of the planet.
The recycling process involves minimal combustion and waste is transformed into reusable materials with no or minimal impact on the environment. The entire process of processing and manufacturing products from waste produces few greenhouse gases because waste recycling industries burn few fossil fuels.
The notable disadvantages of recycling
High initial investment costs
Recycling is not always profitable. Building a new waste recycling unit requires a lot of capital. Supporting costs include purchasing different types of utility vehicles, upgrading the recycling unit, waste management, disposal of chemicals and training the premises by organizing programs and seminars useful.
Recycling sites are still unhygienic, dangerous and unsightly
Go to any waste recycling site and you will almost always encounter unsanitary, unhealthy and unsightly conditions. Places where all types of waste are piled up provide a breeding ground for debris and the spread of infectious diseases. Harmful chemicals from these wastes can also be dangerous.
In addition to causing massive pollution, the entire recycling process poses health risks to the people responsible for recycling this waste. Furthermore, if such waste comes into contact with water, it results in the formation of harmful products which end up polluting drinking water bodies.
