Recycling: Saves The Environment and a Very Good Source of Income

Recycling is the sorting, collecting, and processing materials to manufacture and sell as new products.  It is one of the most successful environmental initiatives in the history of America.  The United States recycles 33% of its waste which saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. The Americans celebrate every November 15th, the America Recycles Day (ARD) which encourages their constituents to recycle trash or junk and to buy recycled products.  It has increased awareness by educating citizens about the benefits of recycling.  Its purpose is to continue to promote the social, environmental, economic or financial benefits of recycling and encourage more people to join the movement toward creating a better natural environment.

Although recycling was then a common household activity, still almost in all countries, garbage is uncontrollably and continuously increasing than ever before where mostly it is compacted and buried in landfills resulting in more pressure to it and the domino effect of damaging the environment and our natural resources.  Recycling at home is certainly the easiest way to help lower carbon emissions and is the most beneficial solid waste disposal. 

The three parts of recycling process such as collection, manufacturing and buying are so important.  In collecting garbage, recyclables should not be sent to the landfill but collected because landfills are engineered areas where waste is placed into the land thereby damaging it and may cause hazards to every living thing.

How to Encourage Recycling

In many cities and municipalities now, recyclables are sold to companies who have the facilities to remanufacture them into consumer products.  Local governments with the help also of the national government should find ways to market recycled or remanufactured products and encourage people to patronize or buy the same.

    Participation of private corporations and institutions also counts a lot.  In the Philippines, SM Supermalls has its own way of inspiring people to make use of their trash and junks by bringing it to SM Supermalls every first Friday and Saturday of the month and exchange them for useful items or cash.  The said activity is in partnership with the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE), pursuant to Republic Act (R.A.) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waster Management Act of 2000 which promotes “practical applications of environmentally sound techniques of waste minimization such as segregation, recycling, resource recovery, re-use and composting.”  The Government of the Philippines through the DENR has the overall responsibility for environmental management. This law requires all Local Government Units in the country to establish an ecological solid waste management program within their jurisdictions and provides for the necessary institutional mechanisms to attain its objectives.

Each Local Government Unit may determine and grant a price preference to encourage the purchase of recycled products. It shall also take into account persons engaged in the business of recycling or persons otherwise providing recycling services.  A program providing for incentives, cash or exchanges with other useful goods will encourage the participation of individuals and concerned sectors in the recycling activities.  Markets for processing and purchasing recyclable materials should be established. 

Stewards of the Environment

The America Recycles Day’s slogan says, “it all comes backs to you.  Even a small shift in your attitudes and actions, multiplied many times over by others accepting this challenge, can change the world.”

            Our surroundings or environment was given by God not only for our own use but also for the next generation or those who will exist next to us.  Thus, we have the responsibility and obligation to preserve, protect and take care of it so that future beings will still have their supply of even just the most basic human needs, such as adequate food, clean water, safe shelter and healthy environment or a place fit for humans to live in.  Thus, it does need such protection that will enhance rather than damage or deplete our natural environment.

“Our common goal of keeping the environment well and safe for future generations synergizes efforts of the government and the private sector for green industry,” DENR Secretary Atienza said.

            Thus, never junk your trash otherwise it may come back to you instead of bringing you a fortune.

Recyclables that Can Be a Good Source of Income

            Households, establishments or companies can have a lucrative source of funds from things which they may consider as junks or trash but can still be sold for remanufacturing, such as the following.

1. Used or scrap papers and cardboards;
2. Empty recyclable boxes;
3. Empty inks and toner cartridges;
4. Empty bottles, plastic scraps and tin cans;
5. Spare or used metals and used lead batteries (from cars, UPS and voltage regulators);
6. Spare or junk aluminum, electric wires, or any wires that contains bronze;
7. Junk electrical appliances; and
8. Wooden or plastic junk furniture and fixtures.