is it right to recycle

8/7/2019 is it right to recycle

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Mercer University School ofEngineering, Courtney C.

Is recycling the right choice? Or is it simplyIs recycling the right choice? Or is it simply

overrated?overrated?

From kindergarten on, we are taught to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

However, recycling can be expensive, especially in the case of plastic.Expenses have led to only 1-3 percent of plastic bags being recycled, and

many places banning the use of plastic bags. So should these bags be reused

and recycled, or just sent to landfills, where they take centuries to break down?


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OnlyOnlytwo of the major six types of plastictwo of the major six types of plastic areare

recycled. The majorityoftheseare beverage bottles.recycled. The majorityoftheseare beverage bottles.High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), isalso usedtoHigh Density Polyethylene (HDPE), isalso usedtomakegrocery bags, however, only 1 percentofplasticmakegrocery bags, however, only 1 percentofplasticbagsarerecycled.bagsarerecycled.Plastic bags make upPlastic bags make up 4.5 percent4.5 percent oflandfills, buttakeoflandfills, buttakecenturiesto breakdown. Theycauseoutdoorcenturiesto breakdown. Theycauseoutdoorpollution, wheretheyend up in trees, andeven chokepollution, wheretheyend up in trees, andeven chokeanimals. These plastic bagsaresometimesreferredtoanimals. These plastic bagsaresometimesreferredtoasthe national flowerin South Africa!asthe national flowerin South Africa!

Picture courtesy of http://www.aolcdn.com/rl_blogs/plastic-

bags400a072707.jpg


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The majority of trash is discarded.The majority of trash is discarded.ExpertswanttofindalternativesforExpertswanttofindalternativesfor

these hardtorecycleitems. Onethese hardtorecycleitems. Onemethodiscombustion forenergy.methodiscombustion forenergy.However, onlyoneeighth oftrashHowever, onlyoneeighth oftrashis burnedforenergy, onethirdisis burnedforenergy, onethirdisrecycled, andover halfisstillrecycled, andover halfisstilldiscardedin landfillswhereitdiscardedin landfillswhereitcreates methanegas.creates methanegas.

Picture courtesy of http://www.environment-

agency.gov.uk/commondata/103196/281706?

referrer=/regions/southern/202145/294984/

Picture courtesy ofCQ

Researcher.


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Environmentalists Fight BackEnvironmentalists Fight BackBagmanufacturessaytocreatea largersupportforrecycling.Bagmanufacturessaytocreatea largersupportforrecycling.

ItonlycostsItonlycosts10 percent10 percent as much energytorecycletheseas much energytorecyclethesebags now, buttheyarecurrently beingbanned, orsenttobags now, buttheyarecurrently beingbanned, orsenttolandfills. Instead, theycould berecycledto make:landfills. Instead, theycould berecycledto make:

bottlesbottles

cratescrates

recyclingbinsrecyclingbins

andothercontainers.andothercontainers.

Picturecourtesy of

www.bbk.ac.uk/

lib/images/blue

bin/bluebin

Picture courtesy of

www.shrewsbury.gov.uk/.../plastic+bottles.jpg


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Banning the BagsBanning the Bags

Largecitiessuch as San Francisco, are banningLargecitiessuch as San Francisco, are banningplasticshoppingbagsat largegroceryanddrugplasticshoppingbagsat largegroceryanddrugstores. Manyothercitiessuch as Oaklandarestores. Manyothercitiessuch as Oaklandare

lookingat headingin thisdirection. Insteadoflookingat headingin thisdirection. Insteadoffindingwaystoreusethis problem child, theyfindingwaystoreusethis problem child, theyaregettingridofthem all together. However,aregettingridofthem all together. However,somestates, like NewYorkand NewJersey,somestates, like NewYorkand NewJersey,requirerecyclingofthe plastic bags. Itkeepstherequirerecyclingofthe plastic bags. Itkeepsthebagsoutofthe landfills, wheretheyaresittingbagsoutofthe landfills, wheretheyaresittingfor years before biodegrading.for years before biodegrading.

Picture courtesy of

www.pitara.com/discover/e

arth/images/85_1.jpg


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No more Paper or Plastic?No more Paper or Plastic?

Whole Foodsgrocerystoreisalso banningthe useofWhole Foodsgrocerystoreisalso banningthe useofplastic bags. They believeitwill force userstofindplastic bags. They believeitwill force userstofindmorefriendlysubstitutesthatareeasiertorecycleormorefriendlysubstitutesthatareeasiertorecycleor

disposeof.Worldwatch, andenvironmental researchdisposeof.Worldwatch, andenvironmental researchgroup, says Americansdiscardgroup, says Americansdiscard100 billion plastic bags100 billion plastic bagsa year, andittakes morethan acenturyto breakdowna year, andittakes morethan acenturyto breakdownin a landfill.in a landfill.

However, some people protestthe ban.However, some people protestthe ban. 92% of people92% of peoplerere--usethese plastic bags, statesthe American Chemistryusethese plastic bags, statesthe American ChemistryCouncil.Council.


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Lower Cost or Lower Energy?Lower Cost or Lower Energy?

Byrecyclingplastics, resourcescan beByrecyclingplastics, resourcescan be

concentratedin otherareasinsteadofconcentratedin otherareasinsteadofm

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factu

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ewp

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usedtorecycle plasticsthan tocreatea newusedtorecycle plasticsthan tocreatea newplastic; however, manufacturersaredriven byplastic; however, manufacturersaredriven by

cost, andsochoosethecheaperoption ofcost, andsochoosethecheaperoption of

producingnewmaterials.producingnewmaterials.


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Cost FactorsCost Factors

Thereare morethanThereare morethan 2,500 types2,500 types ofplastic. Theofplastic. TheEnvironmental Defense Fundsaysthat TheEnvironmental Defense Fundsaysthat The

diversityofplasticisreallydefeatingitsabilitytodiversityofplasticisreallydefeatingitsabilitytoberecycled. Separation ofthetypesofplasticberecycled. Separation ofthetypesofplastic

requirescomplex techniquessuch ascentrifugalrequirescomplex techniquessuch ascentrifugal

forceandelectrostaticcharge. The plasticsforceandelectrostaticcharge. The plasticsmust beseparated beforetheycan berecycled.must beseparated beforetheycan berecycled.


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Cost Factors (cont.)Cost Factors (cont.)

Also, forthe most part, theserecycled plasticscan only beAlso, forthe most part, theserecycled plasticscan only bemadeinto lowmadeinto low--quality productswith small marketquality productswith small marketworth. Theyarerecycledintoitemssuch ascarpetfiberworth. Theyarerecycledintoitemssuch ascarpetfiber

andsupermarketcarrier bags.andsupermarketcarrier bags.

Plasticsdegradeso much duringtherecyclingprocessthatPlasticsdegradeso much duringtherecyclingprocessthattheycan only berecycledtheycan only berecycledonce!once!

Thesefactors havecausedthecostrecyclingofplastictoThesefactors havecausedthecostrecyclingofplastictooutweigh the benefitoftherecycled products, ifoutweigh the benefitoftherecycled products, ifmeasured by marketvalue.measured by marketvalue.


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Benefits of RecyclingBenefits of Recycling

Although therecyclingofplasticcan beexpensive,Although therecyclingofplasticcan beexpensive,benefitsaresimply morethan whattherecycledbenefitsaresimply morethan whattherecycledproductscan besoldfor.productscan besoldfor.

Itkeepsthe plastic bagsoutoflandfills, whereItkeepsthe plastic bagsoutoflandfills, wheretheytake up spaceandarevirtuallytheytake up spaceandarevirtuallybiodegradable.biodegradable.

It uses lessenergytorecycle productsthan toIt uses lessenergytorecycle productsthan tomakevirgin products, regardlessofthecostofmakevirgin products, regardlessofthecostofrecycling.recycling.


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Benefits of Recycling (cont.)Benefits of Recycling (cont.)

Remember: PET

and HDPE

bottles are made

of types of

plastic.

Picture courtesy ofCQ

Researcher.


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So why arent more plastic bags recycled?So why arent more plastic bags recycled?

Mostcurbsiderecyclingbinswontrecyclethe plasticMostcurbsiderecyclingbinswontrecyclethe plastic

bags becausetheyclogthesortingmachinery.bags becausetheyclogthesortingmachinery.

Also, lowsupportforrecyclingmeansitemsto beAlso, lowsupportforrecyclingmeansitemsto be

recycled musttravel longdistancestofindrecyclingrecycled musttravel longdistancestofindrecycling

locations. This longtransportation increasesthelocations. This longtransportation increasesthe

costofrecycling, drivingsupport backdown.costofrecycling, drivingsupport backdown.

Picture courtesy of

http://www.unpluggedliving.com/wp-

content/uploads/2007/08/containers.

jpg


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Ideas for the FutureIdeas for the Future

In conclusion, recycling, especiallyofplastic bagsisexpensiveforIn conclusion, recycling, especiallyofplastic bagsisexpensiveforseveral reasons.several reasons.

Transportation dueto lowsupportTransportation dueto lowsupport

Separation ofPlastics becauseofdiversitySeparation ofPlastics becauseofdiversity

A lowpercentageofplastic bagsarecurrently beingrecycled, drivingupA lowpercentageofplastic bagsarecurrently beingrecycled, drivingupcosts.costs.

Ratherthan banningplastic bags, orsendingthem to landfills,Ratherthan banningplastic bags, orsendingthem to landfills,supportforrecyclingmustincreasetodrivedown costs. Moresupportforrecyclingmustincreasetodrivedown costs. Moreeffortsare beingmadeto make plastic bags lighterandeasiertoeffortsare beingmadeto make plastic bags lighterandeasierto

recycle.recycle.Current bagswill takeoveracenturyto breakdown iftheyare notCurrent bagswill takeoveracenturyto breakdown iftheyare not

recycled. In thefuture, these bags musteithergain moresupportrecycled. In thefuture, these bags musteithergain moresupportforrecycling, or be bannedaltogether.forrecycling, or be bannedaltogether.


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is it right to recycle

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