| When people are not concerned with the | | | | waste or garden waste. This waste, believe it or not, |
| environment it adds to the problem. There is a saying | | | | is also recyclable through new technology utilizing the |
| that goes something like "if you are not a part of the | | | | ability of micro-organisms through composting these |
| solution you are a part of the problem," this may no | | | | materials, or by anaerobic digestion. |
| be true in all cases - but it is certainly try on the issue | | | | Go the extra mile. By this I finally come to my point, |
| of recycling. Many people know how important it is | | | | I mean that the more you know about how recycling |
| to recycle. Others either do not understand or they | | | | is done, the more helpful you can be for the overall |
| do not care about the effects that their own | | | | recycling process. First recyclable materials are sorted, |
| decision to not recycle will make. The key for | | | | of course. Then they must be cleansed of any |
| environmental enthusiasts (who are, at this time, | | | | residues or impurities left behind. Therefore, you can |
| rightly concerned) is to get the word out so that | | | | be of more assistance when you rinse out the |
| more and more people will really understand the | | | | aluminum can, glass bottle or, other item you would |
| problem. | | | | normally put aside for recycling before you do so. |
| Processing older products into new products is the | | | | This is a great idea to help not only increase the |
| basic idea. You can prevent the waste of material | | | | speed of recycling - but to make it more effective, |
| that is still useful just by routing it to a place that will | | | | i.e. to make the recycled materials we use more pure |
| break it down for re-processing and transforming into | | | | and long lasting. I have noticed that the recycling of |
| new, safe and usable items. The example that most | | | | paper is a wonderful thing. Reducing the |
| people are familiar with is that of recycling aluminum | | | | contamination of the recyclables makes a more |
| cans, and glass materials. But there are more and | | | | valuable, high quality, recycled product. As a matter |
| more than that. It has been said that the third key | | | | of fact, because of its texture and purpose - I |
| component of the waste management hierarchy. It is | | | | actually prefer writing on recycled paper than on |
| definitely something we should all pay attention to. | | | | regular paper. |
| Recyclable materials, or, as they are sometimes | | | | The most important thing about this is that we can |
| referred to: "recyclates" or "recyclables,' are | | | | reduce the amount of trees we chop down for the |
| everywhere. In our homes and in our trash cans, | | | | purpose of lumber, cardboard and making other kinds |
| even when people do recycle - sometimes they | | | | of paper. One f the reasons are environment is |
| throw certain things away not even being aware that | | | | suffering and that millions of species are wiped out |
| the item is a recyclable one. So pay more attention | | | | because of the deteriorations of forests everywhere: |
| to what you may or may not be doing to improve | | | | all over t world. One of the most essential things we |
| the environment. Reducing energy usage is very | | | | can do for our environment is to keep our rainforests |
| important, and I believe that everyone should | | | | as untouched as possible aside from the research |
| contribute to the cause. | | | | that is absolutely beneficial. |
| So, you may ask, how exactly is recycling done? It is | | | | Recycling is reducing "inputs" or, energy and raw |
| actually pretty amazing, and a valuable resource for | | | | materials to a production system, or re-using old |
| us to promote all over the country. If we had more | | | | materials effectively. As well as reducing the amount |
| recycling plants and a few less weaponry production | | | | of waste that we, as a general population, produce |
| facilities, perhaps (just as an example, of course) we | | | | and of which we must dispose. Materials that can be |
| may be able to preserve our amount of time left | | | | recycled are a broad category of things we used to |
| before the ozone deteriorates and begins to destroy | | | | dump carelessly out as garbage. Materials such as |
| the world we live in. As melodramatic as it sounds, | | | | aluminum can be recycled indefinitely. So there is no |
| the above statement is absolutely true. More and | | | | reason to throw them out. The importance of |
| more people are finally getting it. But we need to | | | | recycling and the technology of recycling have come |
| avoid ignoring the problem from now on - for the | | | | into more and more fruition. Recycling is more |
| sake of every living thing within the sanctity of this, | | | | important to people right now than it has ever been |
| our precious world. | | | | because the necessity of conservation is always |
| Recyclates include glass, paper, aluminum, asphalt, | | | | growing. This understanding is a great thing. It is a |
| iron, textiles and plastics. But there is more. There are | | | | drive towards a healthier, safer, and more beautiful |
| many types of biodegradable waste, such as food | | | | tomorrow. |