The amount of garbage generated in the United States has steadily increased over the past several decades, and underscores the need for recycling. Garbage and waste recycling helps to reduce the amount of waste that accumulates in landfills. A wide variety of materials can be recycled through curbside programs, including aluminum, glass, paper, plastic and steel. Most homeowners can do their part by separating recyclable goods from nonrecyclable goods.
Significance
Americans produce significant amounts of municipal solid waste. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), about 254 million tons of waste was generated in 2007. This figure represents nearly a 300 percent increase from waste generation compared to 1960, reports the EPA. Paper comprised the largest source of waste, contributing over 32 percent of the total waste.
Recycling Rate
The overall recycling rate in 2007 was about 33 percent. This figure translates into 4.62 pounds per person per day, according to the EPA. Recycling rates of different materials vary widely. The Paper Industry Association Council reported that Americans recycled over 63 percent of the paper used in 2009. On the other hand, nearly 80 percent of used or obsolete electronics ended up in landfills rather than being recycled.
Considerations
Several factors affect the recycling rate of waste. One consideration may be convenience of recycling. According to Earth911.com, half of Americans have access to curbside recycling. Over 80 percent have access in all forms such as recycling trash bins in addition to curbside programs. Another issue is the quality of the waste. Contaminants such as grease or coatings can make materials unrecyclable due to possible contamination of recycling processes, warns the EPA. In fact, the EPA reports that virtually no paper plates and cups were recovered for recycling.
Benefits
Garbage and waste recycling has several benefits. First, it removes hazardous materials from landfills. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warns that electronic waste or e-waste accounts for 75 percent of the heavy metals in landfills. Heavy metals such as lead and cadmium can have serious human health and environmental effects. Second, recycling also benefits the economy. A 2001 study by the National Recycling Coalition reports that the recycling industry employed more than 1 million people.
Prevention/Solution
There are several ways you can recycle in your home. You can easily recycle food scraps and other materials through composting. Composting breaks down waste in a natural way which; you can then use the compost in your garden. You can also find ways to reuse products to avoid additional landfill waste. For example, you can reuse water bottles for drinking water or as mini ice packs by placing filled bottles in the freezer. You can find other uses for spray bottles or emptied glass jars. Anything you do in the way of recycling can benefit the environment.
References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Municipal Solid Waste in the United States
- Paper Industry Association Council: Paper and Paperboard Recovery
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Fact Sheet: Management of Electronic Waste in the United States
- Earth 911: Curbside Recycling
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Recovered Paper Quality
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