Argumentative essay on recycling PDF

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Argumentative essay on why recycling is a good option. Language 4 requirement for UNT...

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“Recycling is just a load of rubbish”

The relationship between humans and trash is a complex one. Gone are the days in which one did not have to worry about sorting out waste into bins of different colours depending on its raw material and its capability to be reused or not. It is common knowledge that our waste habits have a negative impact on the planet. In seeking to make amends with mother Earth, humans have adopted a course of action which aims at minimizing such impact. Recycling remains an important way of reducing waste and recovering valuable material, while reducing considerable amount of energy and water. Recycling helps reduce litter by reusing discarded materials. Rather than adding up to the already existing piles of waste, recycled items become raw material for new products. Glass and metal can effectively be reused indefenitely without it affecting their durability or properties. For instance, Aluminum cans remain in high demand in the market of recycled commodities. Technological advancements have made it possible for the once regarded as nonrecyclable materials to have a go in the process by prolonging their useful life, such is the case of single-use plastic. This type of plastic is given downstream uses after being recycled once or twice, it is added to concrete to create more durable roads, for example or its used for manufacturing lightweight household items. Recycling helps reduce energy and water consumption when manufacturing new items. The proceedings do not need to start anew for the material has already gone through some part of the process. Reusing aluminum cans saves up to 90 percent of the energy to be needed were we to use unrefined sources; one third of the energy is saved when recycling plastic, and the same happens with glass. As to water, 43 percent is saved when processing recycled paper rather than using virgin fiber paper. If the magazine industry moved one million tons of raw cellulose fiber to 100 percent recycled, it would save enough water to fill 15.000 swimming pools. Some critics claim that recycling may lull citizens into a naive, if not false, sense of security in tackling all of the world´s environmental issues. Authorities in the subject agree that recycling comes across as a valuable tool in the fight against pollution. Being the culprit, human beings are given the chance to have a hand in the ongoing battle with climate change. More often than not, when compared to other social actors, our actions as individuals may give the impression of being pointless, however the alternative, which is inaction, is without any doubts far worse. Climate change is a notion which we seem to have been born with. Understanding this notion has proven to be insufficient, we need to act upon it. Though regarded as futile efforts by some, the three Rs have become a key element in our attempt to address our damaging far-reaching and often devastating impact on the planet....