Recycle

To recycle glass, paper, metal, plastic, etc. it involves processing those materials into new products so waste of these potentially useful materials can be prevented. Recycling is one of the key segments of our waste reduction and is one of the components of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” structure.

Recycling has been around for many years. For example, when Britain became aware that recycling paper meant saving forests, the founded the first waste paper association. Also during and after World War I and II, because of resource shortages, government campaigns to recycle metals and fibers were put into place. These programs continued in some countries after the wars because of limited natural resources.

It was in the 70’s that large companies began to recycle more extensively because energy costs increased. For a recycling program to work, having a large permanent supply of recyclable material is essential. Options that have been used to create this quantity of materials are making collection mandatory and legislating container deposit.

There are 3 different systems to recycle goods:

Curbside collection done in a waste bin from residential areas;
Drop-off centers where recyclables are taken to a central location;
Buy-back centers who purchase recyclables.

Unfortunately government subsidies are necessary to make these buy-back centers profitable.

There is still some controversy on whether or not our efforts to recycle are economically viable. However, it has been concluded that incineration is the most effective way to dispose of drink containers, even the aluminum ones.