BENEFITS OF RECYCLING
Recycling is beneficial in two ways: it
reduces the inputs (energy and raw materials) to a production system and
reduces the amount of waste produced for disposal. Some materials like
aluminum can be recycled indefinitely as there is no change to the
materials. Other recycled materials like paper require a percentage of raw
materials (wood fibers) to be added to compensate for the degradation of
existing fibers. Recycling aluminium saves 95% of the energy cost of
processing new aluminium.The most
commonly used methods for waste disposal (landfill, pyrolysis,
incineration) may be environmentally damaging and unsustainable.
Therefore any way to reduce the volume of waste being disposed in this
fashion may be beneficial. The maximum environmental benefit is gained
by waste minimization (reducing the amount of waste produced), and
reusing items in their current form such as refilling bottles. |
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