Sand is the raw material for glass. Sand is plentiful in the Earth's crust. We are in no danger of depleting sand.
2007-03-15 03:22:42 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Recycling glass is a good idea because it keeps it out of landfills and allows us to reuse the product instead of using energy to produce more. The less we consume, the better.
-The energy saved in recycling 1 glass bottle will light a 60- watt light bulb for 4 hours.
-Glass produced from recycled glass saves up to 32% of the energy, reduces air pollution by 20% and water pollution by 50%.....
Recycling is not "stupid", it's environmentally and economically a smart choice.
2007-03-15 03:37:08 · answer #1 · answered by rikki l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By dose I think you mean does. I think that's stupid. It is all relative. The US is certainly not the only country to do it.
Recycling is not the best solution. In the hierarchy Reduce and Reuse come before Recycle. That is, it would be better if we never had to make the bottle in the first place (Reduce). Then it would be better to Reuse that same product, by say washing it and then refilling it with jam or milk, rather than melting it down and remaking another bottle. That said Recycling is still better than throwing it away.
2007-03-17 12:40:42 · answer #2 · answered by resolution 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, the raw materials are plentiful, but the idea of recycling is not generally because of a lack of raw materials. The idea is to reduce waste. Glass, along with plastic and hundreds of other materials lasts hundreds of years, and we cannot keep dumping it wherever we please.
As an aside, Innovative companies in New Zealand are mixing recycled glass in their pavements to create a 'glassphalt', which reduces the amount of quarrying for stone. Another good example of reducing waste.
2007-03-15 03:49:07 · answer #3 · answered by Kiwi Chicken 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It uses less energy (32% less) and it creates half th eamount of water pollution. Therefore it is economically and environmentally beneficial. A glass bottle will spend a million years in a landfill before decomposing, but you could take that same bottle and recycle it indefinitely.
It's really a nobrainer.
2007-03-15 03:37:26 · answer #4 · answered by justin_at_shr 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think that USA is the only country that dose that :)
i think its stupid...
2007-03-15 03:29:56 · answer #5 · answered by gabi_c_b 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋