To Recycle or not to Recycle, that is the Question?

Question

Does recycling help? I want to help save the environment by recycling, but does my action really make a difference or not.

Answer 1

Of course it does. You may think you can't make much of a difference but if everyone that thought that recycled, there would be a huge difference. Please recycle

Answer 2

Recycling is only HALF of the equation! The other half is BUYING things that are made out of recycled material. If you really want to help that is the best place to start. What is the point of recycling if it is not made into products that consumers demand? When recycling plants do not have enough customers many simply throw their recyclables into the landfill!!! Look for products that are made from recycled material (it will say so on the label). Complete the circle!!!

Answer 3

I used to wonder this a lot. At our previous residence, we often burned our trash as we were way out in the country and trash service was expensive and hard to get. I noticed all the waste we produced as a family even after it had been burnt. Then, we moved to a small community that limits your trash pickup to 2 bags per week. They offer a recycling drop off point (that luckily is near our home) to help residents reduce their trash. They take 1 and 2 plastics, paper, newspaper, steel cans, aluminum cans, cardboard, and paperboard. Over the course of a week, I noticed that we produce about 3 33 gallon trash bags of recycables (crushed). That adds up quick. Our community has a population of just over 2000 people. If everyone recycled what they could, can you imagine the mounds of stuff to be reused? In terms of if you can make a difference or not, test yourself. Start keeping your recyclables. See how quickly they add up. Want more? Try dumping them in your yard. I know it sounds weird, but it will give a good idea real quick of how much land space your recycable items take up and how unsightly they are as garbage. Remember that things add up- not only trash, but people. You may be one person, but your neighbor makes two. Add your parents and that's four. How much recycable trash do some of your local businesses or school throw away? Do your part and spread the word. Encourage others and petition your city council for help. You can make a difference.

Answer 4

Yes, of course it makes a difference. Imagine if you threw one can and one piece of paper away a day (and most of us use much more). Now imagine that times 365 days a year. Your contributions do make a difference. And don't buy that Penn & Teller crap--recycling IS good for the earth. It's not just about reducing pollution, but also about saving natural resources and making the world a more enjoyable place to live aesthetically.

Answer 5

Yes recycling helps. And if i were you I would. But make sure you are recycling correctly or you may be doing more harm the good.

Answer 6

well i see you live in SF from the golden gate bridge behind ur avitar. of course it makes a difference! everything recycles get used for some purpose, especially when ur living in the bay area home to many environmentally conscious people! if u want information on recycling then check this site out from SF Environment

Answer 7

YES, YES, YES. It makes a difference.
Have you ever heard about the concept that a butterfly in Brazil can influence our weather patterns here in the U.S.A.
The flap of one butterflies wings can change wind currents
You, as one person recycling, can make a difference.
It may seem pointless, and you won't see the effects right away. But if each person recycles one can, it's huge.

Answer 8

Yes, recycling does help. In addition to the many excellent points already posted, recycling keeps these things out of the landfills, incinerators and waterways.

Space to put our garbage is getting harder to find and more expensive.

Answer 9

Recycling helps. People produce a lot of trash annually, and much of it can be reduced through recycling.

Answer 10

I live in Utah and recycled aluminum in 65 cents a pound,so its worth it,helps save the enviornment and gives me a little extra cash as well.I would recycle glass,paper ect,but I live in the country and have no idea where to drop them products off?