| Over the centuries, increasing technology has | | | | disposal. However, this is just one of the several |
| caused increased industrial productions. Since | | | | merits of recycling. Making use of waste materials |
| products are made to be consumed, increasing | | | | for production reduces the cost of production, |
| consumerism has created a continuous problem | | | | because it is far cheaper to produce new |
| with waste management. In the past, waste | | | | products from waste than from the original raw |
| management primarily entailed the collection and | | | | material. In addition reduced waste to be disposed |
| disposal of waste materials. Then, the commonest | | | | off ensures a healthier environment and the |
| method of waste disposal was landfills because | | | | reduced energy consumption that goes into |
| they were relatively cheap compared with other | | | | making new products from waste also means |
| available methods. Waste was used to fill in | | | | reduced green house gas emission from the |
| disused pieces of land, like mining voids. The | | | | industrial process. |
| waste was compressed, buried beneath the earth | | | | However, not every type of waste can be |
| and covered to prevent vermin and the wind | | | | recycled and this is perhaps one of the downsides |
| blowing away litter. However, landfills are no longer | | | | of recycling as a complete waste management |
| that cheap and easy. Disused pieces of land are | | | | policy. Nevertheless, most waste materials can be |
| now more difficult to find and landowners are no | | | | recycled and those that cannot be recycled can |
| longer willing to allow the use of land close to | | | | then be easily managed. Materials that are |
| theirs for this purpose. Incineration was also a | | | | commonly recycled include glass, paper, aluminum, |
| good choice, since it involved completely burning | | | | asphalt and steel. Recycling is the best thing that |
| the waste inside a closed chamber. However, | | | | has ever happened to waste management in |
| concerns with the release of toxic gas and ash | | | | human history; never before has man been able |
| have also made this alternative less attractive. | | | | to make money from 'useless' materials. For |
| Thus, recycling of waste is now the most | | | | example, in some societies, people are paid to |
| accepted and preferred method of waste | | | | bring their waste for recycling and there is an |
| management. | | | | increasing proliferation of recycling facilities around |
| Recycling involves collecting used materials | | | | the world today. Over the past ten years, the |
| regarded as waste to be re-used in making new | | | | percentage of total waste recycled has more |
| products. With recycling, waste materials are put | | | | than doubled, though some materials are better |
| to better use. It involves separating the waste | | | | recycled than others. Averagely, it is estimated |
| with respect to its raw material base and then | | | | that almost 30% of all waste is now recycled |
| re-using it as materials to make new products. | | | | with soft drink and beer cans topping the list of |
| Obviously, recycling is the most constructive | | | | recycled materials. |
| approach to waste management, because the | | | | Although, the procedure for recycling varies from |
| benefits cut across several sectors. | | | | one country to the other, depending on |
| The first and most apparent merit of recycling is | | | | government policies, it is important to try as |
| that it leaves us with reduced waste to worry | | | | individuals and organizations to support recycling of |
| about, as all waste material that can be recycled | | | | waste in any way that we can. A safe and |
| is passed through the industrial process again, | | | | healthy environment is the responsibility of us all. |
| leaving only waste that cannot be recycled for | | | | |