week 7
838 words by htran18
Benefit of recycling.
There are many benefits of recycling and using organic products. These environmentally preservationist benefits range from reducing costs, conserving energy, reducing solid waste, decreasing pollution, improving the quality of waste water, reducing pressure on forests and the environmental impacts of commercial forestry, and improving health standards.
Recycled paper has cost benefits because it is made from materials that would otherwise constitute the solid waste that is polluting our planet. By infusing this material into the paper manufacturing process and eliminating the costs associated with “virgin” pulp and whitening agents, companies can procure cost savings by producing and consuming recycled materials. Recycled paper products conserve resources and generate less pollution during manufacturing because the fibers have already been processed once and it reduces solid waste because it diverts usable paper from the waste stream. Making paper from used paper is generally a cleaner and more efficient process than making paper from trees, since much of the work of extracting and bleaching the fibers has already been done. That means less total energy, water, and chemical use, and lower releases of air and water pollutants.
Each year, the United States used 85.5 million tons of paper, of which we recycle 22% or 19 million tons. Of the remaining paper, we could recycle up to 70% or 46 million tons. And those 46 million tons could save 782 million trees. Every day, Americans buy about 62 million newspapers and throw out around 44 million of them. If we recycled just half our newsprint every year, we would need 3,200 fewer garage trucks to collect our trash. Recycling approximately 1 ton of newspaper saves 17 trees. The EPA has found that making paper from recycled materials results in 74% less air pollution and 35% less water pollution. This means that every ton of recycled paper keeps almost 60 pounds of populations out of the atmosphere that would have been produced if the paper had been manufactured from virgin resources. Moreover, recycling paper also save energy, every ton of recycled paper saves approximately 4 barrels of oil, 4,200 kilowatt hours of energy and enough energy to heat and air-condition the average North American home for almost 6 months. Also, recycling paper made 30 jobs by collecting the paper, 40 jobs processing the paper, and 75 jobs are required.
The environmental benefits of paper recycling are many. With one ton of paper would save enough energy to power the average American home for six months, 7000 gallons of water, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space. On the other hand, when trees are harvested for papermaking, carbon is released, generally in the form of carbon dioxide. When the rate of carbon absorption exceeds the rate of release, carbon is said to be “sequestered.” This carbon sequestration reduces greenhouse gas concentrations by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Using the concept of recycling can also help to reduce the greenhouse effect. Gas emissions occur due to the manufacturing, use and also the disposal of products that are not biodegradable. If the greenhouse gas emissions reach dangerous concentration levels, it leads to changes in the temperatures globally, changes in the levels of the sea and other bizarre climatic conditions. Therefore, recycling can help reduce the need to manufacture paper, plastics, metals and glass. This would save energy needed to manufacture new products. Using recycled products would also reduce the amount of materials (which are not biodegradable) that end up in the landfills. Materials that end up in landfills tend to decompose and cause the release of methane gas. This is very harmful for the environment; therefore such landfills are the main cause of the emission of methane gas into the atmosphere.
Plastics are equally hazardous to planet Earth. The reduction in the use of plastics would help in the conservation of energy. Plastics prove to be very difficult to dispose. If plastics are to be buried, these can last for at least 700 years. So, the next time you use plastic cups or even polystyrene foam cups, give a thought to the amount of waste you are adding to the environment. Desist the use of such elements, always carry your own bags for shopping and reuse and recycle such products whenever possible.
Most aluminum companies would benefit with the concept of recycling as they can save approximately 19 million barrels of oil. This it-self can give enough energy to supply electricity to about 18 million households for a period of one year. An ideal situation would be when every individual realizes his/her own responsibility and practices the concept of recycling; then one can certainly have hope for the future of this planet. Besides, recycling also creates job opportunities for most people, which is all for a good cause! The benefits of recycling are many more to name, but to actually use these concepts in our everyday life would require awareness and also the urge to spread this message. So, whenever you can, just spread the word! Recycling will benefit everybody around the globe, including you!
Paper facts. 17 October 2009 http://www3.niu.edu/recycling/alum_facts/page5.html
Benefits of recycling, 17 October 2009
Benefits of using recycled product, 17 October 2009