What is Recycling

Recycling, as we know it, is the reprocessing of the solid waste generated from our everyday activities into new and useful products. Recycling has many useful purposes both to us and to the environment. First of all, it reduces energy demand that allows fuel supplies to last longer. It also reduces water pollution that in turn protects species. Recycling reduces mineral demand and that also protects the biodiversity by eliminating a major cause of the loss of biodiversity, increased habitat destruction. Furthermore, Recycling reduces solid waste disposal and saves energy. The lowered demand for energy improves air quality and reduces air pollution. Reduced air pollution will help to prevent global warming and of course lowers acid rain deposition. Recycling has the added bonus of eliminating litter from the streets.
Materials that are collected are processed in one of two ways. There is primary and closed-loop recycling that occurs when the waste being recycled becomes a product of the same type. Old newspapers become new newspapers. Think of Starbuck's coffee sleeves. Secondary recycling is the opposite. It is when old materials are recycled into different products. There are also two types of wastes that can be recycled. They are pre-consumer which is generated in a manufacturing process and postconsumer which is waste that is collected after consumers use the products. Though you may not expect it, there is 25 times more pre-consumer waste than postconsumer waste.
Though everything is theoretically recyclable material, there are two factors that go into deciding whether or not it is actually recycled. The first is whether there are other materials mixed into the recyclable goods. If there are, the whole thing is incinerated rather than recycled. The second factor is if businesses will buy the finished products. If there is no demand for recycling from the corporate sector, then it will fail. Business plays a big part in the effort for recycling. It is not only the work of concerned individuals who are environmental advocates, though they are important. Therefore, you need to remember to separate your recyclables and trash and also to urge your local businesses to purchase goods that are made from recycled materials to promote demand which will increase recycling.