Top Nine Reasons Why We Should Recycle, Reuse and Reduce
There is a cost to our planet for every item we use or product and every product we consume. Large amounts of natural resources and energy are consumed during production, and the waste associated with our consumption must somehow be absorbed. “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, or commonly referred to as the three Rs, is a simple strategy that all of us can apply to limit the extent of our impact on our planet.
Today, we will be sharing you nine reasons why we should recycle, reuse and reduce: –
1. “Use and Reuse” can Conserve Energy
- The mining and refining of minerals and other natural resources and the manufacturing of consumer goods are energy-intensive processes.
- Studies have shown that 20 times more energy is needed to make aluminum from bauxite ore than from recycled materials.
- So by reusing household items rather than buying new ones, you can limit the amount of new resources required and save a lot of energy.
2. You can Save Money
- It is important to only buy what you truly need, and reusing things around the house instead of purchasing new ones can save money.
- In many parts of the world., it is more expensive to dispose of waste than it is to recycle it.
- In some cases, it is even possible to earn a small amount of money from selling your used items.
3. Recycling, Reusing and Reducing can Create a Sustainable Future
- Our world today has a limited amount of natural resources and a limited capacity to process waste.
- By reducing, reusing and recycling, we are not only decreasing our immediate impact on the planet but we are also creating practices that are sustainable for future generations.
4. We will be Creating New Job Opportunities
- Industries have developed to recycle goods can be a valuable source of employment.
- There are many factories that manufacture new products out of recycled goods, this can result in more job opportunities for the society.
5. We can Preserve Natural Resources
- The planet’s natural resources are limited.
- By implementing the three Rs, it is possible to dramatically reduce the pressure we place on these resources.
- For instance, recycling 1 ton of paper can save about 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water.
6. We can Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- A large quantity of the energy consumed during the process of mining, refining and manufacturing comes from burning fossil fuels.
- By recycling half of your yearly recyclable household waste, it can save up to 2400 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.
- Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that is connected to global warming concerns.
7. We can Reduce Landfill Spaces
- Many items we throw away often end up in landfills, where they take up valuable space and are sources of air and water pollution.
- More often, these items are not biodegradable and it would take centuries to break down.
- Plastic, for instance, can take up to 500 years to decompose.
- Other sources state that the amount of waste that could be recycled is as high as 60 percent.
8. We can Stimulate Technological Advances
- With growing social pressure to implement more environmentally-friendly practices, companies are forced to find innovative technologies to incorporate recycled materials into their products.
- These new technologies are beneficial for the planet.
9. We can Reduce Pollution
- The large amounts of waste associated with our consumption inevitably leads to pollution of our air, soil and water.
- For instance, improperly disposed of used motor oil can pollute the ground and fresh water.
- The EPA predicts that 200 million gallons of used motor oil are improperly disposed of each year.
- By reusing things around the house and disposing of them properly once they can no longer be reused can have a large impact on pollution levels.
To conclude, there are a lot of benefits that we can gain from implementing the 3R’s concept in our daily lives. We can be able to reduce pollution and still make an effort at making our planet a better place for the next generation.