Recycling – why?
Many of the world’s resources that we use to manufacture are finite. Not only is it wasteful to throw away products, many of these items contain or are made from scarce resources that can damage the environment, like oil, gas and precious metals.
Why should we recycle?
If we allow precious metals like Mercury (which is contained in phones, computers and other electronics) to be thrown away, they can seep into the water and ground, ultimately damaging the environment. Perhaps just as importantly, products like glass can be easily reused again and again, thereby ensuring that we make more efficient use of them.
What are the problems?
Some goods, like certain types of plastic, are difficult – or impossible – to recycle. In addition to this, unscrupulous companies, often based abroad, claim to recycle plastics and sell their services to local authorities. The plastics are then shipped to poor countries, where they often end up in landfills or are simply dumped at sea. This shows that we need a global solution to the problem of waste.
Leo T 