The Need For Recycling: Ensuring Social, Economic And Environmental Benefits

Recycling of plastics involves following an extensive and expensive modus operandi. The process itself is very confusing especially with the numbering due to different types of resins used in making these plastics.

Experts advise not to use plastics that have been numbered because it is a costly affair. In Seattle, the government has set a target of 60% to recycle all wastes by 2010. This not only brings significant economic benefits but will also save the costs needed to maintain landfills in the city. Moreover, with the new ordinance on new recycling requirements, more and more recycling collection facilities will be provided at the community level.

Community Involvement In Recycling

Participation at community level is of prime importance for the success of any movement inn general and recycling in particular. Citizens should know how to separate recyclable wastes from ordinary trash. Garbage collectors do not pick up recyclable wastes kept by you in ordinary trash, thus allowing you to recollect them. In large corporate houses and apartments, the authorities do a random checking if any recyclable material has been thrown with ordinary garbage. If they are not removed even after three notices, a certain amount is charged. All these steps are contributing to the success of recycling.

Role Of Government Authorities

Government and local authorities conduct free workshops to educate and train people on how to collect and separate recyclable materials. These workshops make recycling an easy process. The recycling method involves collection, sorting and processing of recyclable wastes and then manufacturing those recyclable wastes into new recyclable products. This entire process generates large employment opportunities for all- skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.

Recycling contributes both directly and indirectly to the economy's growth. Indirectly it benefits many support industries which supply goods and services to the recycling and reuse industrial establishments. These support industries in turn employ nearly 1.4 million employees thus contributing to economic growth.

Today, the government is pressing for more innovative and strategically planned methods to accelerate the process of recycling. It protects the environment and the resources by conserving energy and reducing the emissions of pollutants. It should be realized that not all recyclable materials are processed in the same plant. The recyclable materials should be clearly sorted out during the initial collection and processing phase.

To some extent, recycling reusable materials and equipments does not come free of cost but the benefit it generates surpasses the costs involved.