Recycling

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing: energy usage, air pollution (from incineration), and water pollution (from landfilling).

History

Recycling has been a common practice for most of human history, with recorded advocates as far back as Plato in the fourth century BC. During periods when resources were scarce, archaeological studies of ancient waste dumps show less household waste (such as ash, broken tools, and pottery)—implying more waste was being recycled in the absence of new material.

Process

The recycling process involves three stages. The first stage is the collection, where waste materials are collected from different locations such as homes, businesses, and so on. These waste materials are then sorted and cleaned, to remove any impurities. The second stage is the manufacturing. Here, the waste materials are transformed into new products. The third stage is the selling of these new products to consumers.

Types of Recycling

There are several methods of recycling, including Mechanical recycling, Chemical recycling, and Organic recycling. Each method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and is used for different types of waste materials.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Recycling has a number of benefits, including the reduction of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, the conservation of natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals, and the prevention of pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials. However, recycling also has some drawbacks, such as the cost of recycling programs, the decrease in the quality of recycled products, and the issue of waste that cannot be recycled.

See Also

• Waste management
• Sustainable living
• Environmental conservation