Without recycling, our society use of natural resources is similar to constantly withdrawing money out of a bank account without ever depositing anything in. Even if there are millions of dollars in an account, eventually the money will run out - like our natural resources. Then, we will really be in trouble.
Already today, recycling is making a difference in our life. Domestically, the amount of energy saved from recycling tops 605 trillion Btus (British Thermo Units) annually, which is equivalent to the amount of energy used by 6 million households. Economically, the total value of materials supplied from recycling in 2005 is predicted to be around 5.2 billion dollars. Environmentally, recycling is saving over 500,000 trees a year from being cut down and preventing 48 millions tons of carbon gas (greenhouse gas) to be emitted into the atmosphere. These numbers should only continue to increase in the future as the entire world becomes more conscious about recycling. The above data was collected from Office of the Environmental Executive.
Most of today’s recycling burdens fall on the shoulders of government agencies. We believe the future of recycling really lies in the hands of the manufacturers and consumers of our society. As much as the government tries to educate the public about the importance of recycling, it is useless if the products manufacturers make are not recyclable and if the general public just doesn't care. On the other hand, if the manufactured products were easily recyclable and if the general public had a sense of the problem and everyone started recycling, then a difference would be made. If everyone was recycling, our planet would be cleaner and our current natural resources could be conserved for a longer time.
Since our society has always been economically driven, the flourishing of recycling really depends on the economic motive behind it. In order for the recycling industry to hit big, the consumers first have to show the willingness to purchase materials made out of recycled materials. When the demand is in place, manufacturers will be willing to do whatever possible to implement recyclable materials in their products to suit the demand of the public. As this cycle of consumer drives manufacturers, manufacturers pushes products, and products entices consumers burgeons into a significant size, the recycling industry’s future will be unfathomable.
Section I: Introduction
Section II: Present
Section III: Future (YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN THIS SECTION)
Complete Table of Contents
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