2006-10-30 03:32:59 · 6 answers · asked by syelark 3 in Environment
Do you know for sure that the waste you put out for recycling gets buried or burned?
Look at it this way, it *may* not get recycled if you've gone to the effort of separating it out, but if you haven't then it *definitely* won't get recycled.
Besides, the more we demand more environmentally friendly solutions to waste problems, the less waste will be buried or burned.
It's always worth making an effort, don't expect everyone else to pick up the slack for you or nothing will ever get done - lead by example!
2006-10-30 04:14:39 · answer #1 · answered by lauriekins 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some recycling is very efficient. Aluminum for example is very expensive to produce from ore but very cheap to recycle. Clear glass is also very recyclable.
Cardboard and wood is also fairly efficiently recycled.
Clothing also has good potential and has probably been recycled profitably longer than anything else.
Paper is debateable. Whilst some is used there is not a great Demand for it. Also trees grown to produce paper produce a lot of oxygen whilst they are growing so that is good for ecology and recycling paper may cut back on that. There is also a question of the amount of energy it takes to recycle paper.
Whilst some plastics are recyclable their light weight makes them unsuitable to transport as a completely compressed load would only be very light.
Bu the real point in recycling is that if you produce a cheap and efficient product from trash - someone will find a way to use it.
Green and brown glass has little use but experimental road surfaces are being introduced that not only use the glass but also give better adhesion for cars whilst providing a quicker draining surface.
Tyre rubber is also being used in road surfaces and in place of sand in shooting ranges. Rubber matting for childrens play areas and a number of other uses.
Recycling batteries, printer cartidges, fridges and electrical items prevent many heavy metals, chemicals and gases escaping into the environment where they can be harmful.
Whilst recycling is in it's infancy and currently not that efficient, as long as we continue to try and put it to good practice it will gradually become more and more useful and cost effective.
2006-10-30 03:56:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have asked myself this question and the only answer I can come up with is at least some of it gets recycled and turned into a recycled product. Right now I dont think we take recycling very seriously. We supposedly have restrictions on what we can put in our garbabe but noone ever looks in the black bag. I went to our local dump and they dont check a thing that is in a garbage bag. I have seen people put pesticides, paint, all kinds of crap into a black bag and that's the end of it.
2006-10-30 03:37:22 · answer #3 · answered by juncogirl3 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The more we can recycle the less is burned or buried. The more we reuse the better. The more we can avoid using the better, so we do not burn or bury.
2006-10-30 03:36:48 · answer #4 · answered by science teacher 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To reduce the amount that is burned/buried, hence why we need to recycle.
2006-10-30 03:40:23 · answer #5 · answered by Annie M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think it's the same old story we wont realise how big a problem it is until its too late.
2006-10-30 03:43:25 · answer #6 · answered by superegg1988 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋