Recycling
RECYCLING
Paula Porter
Dr. Holden
ED 498
3-05-2012
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Abstract
This paper explores a published article’s results of research conducted on recycling. The article
has several definitions for recycling. It lists the steps associated with recycling materials before it
becomes a product. There are statistics of the amount of waste Americans accumulates yearly.
And Finally, the benefits of recycling.
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Recycling
Recycling has been around for a very long time; thousands of years to be exact. Some
recycling methods then were recycling animal skins and scrap metal. Animal skins were re-used
by the Indians for clothes, shoes and shelter and metal was melted down to make swords and
other weapons. However, now, century’s later metal is still melted down to make things such as
airplanes, cars, appliances, war weapons and much, much, more. And animal skin is still used
today, to make shoes, boots and certain clothing items; such leather coats. Recycling became
noticed as a trend by the public in the 1970’s. The industries have known about recycling for
years. The public grabbed the concept that turning old items into new ones was just as much their
duty as well as industries when the environment began to go unhealthy and when recycling
centers opened. Now, curbside recycling programs and recycling centers are common. In 2009,
approximately 9,000 curbside recycling programs and 3,000 composting communities existed in
the United States (EPA 2010). You can now recycle at home and in airports, schools, and the
workplace. What is recycling? , What does waste consist of? , and what are the benefits of
recycling?
Recycling basics and steps
What is recycling? Recycling can be defined as making a new product from used
materials or “to adapt to a new use” and “to make ready for reuse” seem to fit best
(Merriam-Webster, 2011). Don’t confused reusing with recycling. Reusing is far different
from recycling, for example, taking an empty water bottle and refilling it with water over and
over again is reusing. However, recycling is creating something new from garbage, for instance,
taking plastic bottles and/or plastic bags and making tee shirts and door mats. A recycling “loop”
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is created when a consumer purchases a recycled item, instead of the direct line a product would
normally take if simply thrown in the trash” (Palliser, 2011).
The recycling steps are collection and processing, manufacturing, and purchasing the
recycled products.

Collection
o Curbside at residences
o Drop-off centers
o Buy-back centers
o Deposit/refund programs

Cleaned and sorted
o Recycled materials are bought and sold

Manufacturing stage
o Converted into a product that is completely or partially made of
recycled material
Newspapers, paper towels, aluminum, plastic, glass soda bottles, steel cans, and plastic laundry
detergent bottles are items that often contain recycled material. Recycled materials are also being
used in roadway asphalt (glassphalt), carpeting, park benches, and pedestrian bridges (EPA
2011a, and Palliser, 2011). The last step, purchasing recycled products, completes the recycling
loop.
Waste Statistics
In 2009, Americans generated 243 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) and
recovered 82 million tons of this material (61 million tons were recycled and 21 million tons
composted) (Palliser, 2011).
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MSW recycling rates, 1960 to 2009Sinc
the
Since the 1960’s MSW in America has increased 155 million tons. America’s municipal
solid waste consists of paper and paperboards, food scraps, yard trimmings, plastics, metals,
rubber, leather and textiles, wood and glass. And the recycling rate for some of those in 2009
were: were lead-acid batteries (96%), newspapers (88%), corrugated boxes (81%), office-type
papers (74%), major appliances (67%), steel packaging (66%), yard trimmings (60%),
commercial printing papers (66%), standard mail (63%), magazines (54%), aluminum cans
(51%), and folding cartons (50%). The lowest recycling rate was for polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) bottles and jars at 28% (EPA 2010 and Palliser, 2011).
Benefits of Recycling
Recycling reduces waste and protects the environment (Palliser, 2011). Recycling
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reduces the need for incineration and landfills, prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing
of products from virgin materials; saves energy; decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that
contribute to global climate change; conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and
minerals; and helps sustain the environment for future generations (EPA 2011a and Palliser
2011).
In conclusion revisiting recycling has been a great experience. Recycling is very
important for the earth and clean air. We need to continue to do our part in protect the
environment and making sure that landfills decrease instead of increasing and that are properly
maintained. Recycling is very important for earth. Many companies are on broad with recycling
doing their part to help decrease waste.
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Works Cited
Palliser, Janna. (2011). Revisiting recycling. Science Scope. November 2011, pp. 14-17.
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