The United States produces about 254 million tons of garbage every year. Of that amount, only 32% gets recycled.
Does the fact that 162 million pounds of garbage will end up in landfills each year not frighten you? Add that number to the amount of trash the rest of the world produces and the message becomes clear.
We need to do something, fast.
Fortunately, being a part of the solution is as easy as committing to understanding the importance of recycling and choosing to do it more.
Not sure what recycling does for you and the world around you?
Below are eight reasons why recycling is so important.
1. The Problem is Getting Worse
The more people there are in the world, the more garbage that gets produced. Populations across the globe are expanding at a breakneck pace, adding to the problem.
Every year, 83 million more people are born than die. As a matter of fact, there are about 10 times more people on earth today than there were in the early 1900s.
For us to continue to flourish as a population, we have to respect the importance of recycling and make a concerted effort to reuse resources.
2. You’re Ahead of the Educational Curve
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re ahead of the recycling educational curve.
Countries like the United States and Britain had their industrial revolutions a long time ago. They now understand the effects that unbridled production and consumption can have on the world. They’ve learned their lesson and are starting to curb their habits.
Developing countries with massive populations like India are only starting their industrial revolutions. That means years of environmental damage will wreak havoc on our planet.
Given what you know and the position you’re in, you need to increase your efforts to offset the third world’s slow progress. The rest of the world must lead while developing nations learn to balance monetary and environmental concerns.
3. Climate Change is Real
More waste filling landfills means more greenhouse gas emissions. More greenhouse gas emissions mean a depleted ozone layer, which leads to harsher climates across the world.
Many parts of the middle east, for example, are likely to suffer from extreme heat 80 days out of the year by mid-century.
Through recycling, we can curb the rate at which the earth becomes non-hospitable and can reverse the effects of climate change.
4. Less Area Taken Up By Trash
With all the trash we’re producing, many people wonder where it all goes?
Typically, trash gets piled up mountains in various undesirable parts of the country. These mountains are landfills, and they get bigger every year.
Some trash doesn’t even make it to landfills. Often garbage ends up polluting oceans and filling homes which is why cleaning companies like Address Our Mess have become so valuable.
Therein lies one of the key reasons why understanding the importance of recycling is vital.
The more we recycle, the less land the government will need to annex for landfills. That means more places for people to go which can reduce home prices and increase access to resources.
5. Recycling Means Clean Energy Jobs
Every time you drop a plastic bottle in a blue container, you’re creating a job.
As more items get recycled, more money gets approved by the government to increase the efficiency of the recycling process. More jobs will then pop up at recycling facilities, and we’ll start to build an economy that’s focused on supporting the long-term viability of our planet.
That cause and effect relationship is a powerful one. It’s one that you should always keep in mind when you’re considering throwing something away in the wrong container.
6. You’ll Save Money
In many states, recycling bottles will refund you a recycling tax of about 10 cents. If you use plastics frequently, that money can add up.
Even if you’re not into turning in bottles at recycling facilities, recycling can still help you protect your hard earned cash.
When items get recycled, businesses don’t need to go through the process of creating more materials. That leads to companies saving money and passing those savings on to you.
7. Recycling Protects Wildlife
The importance of recycling extends beyond the benefits it can offer you. It also offers wildlife a number of benefits.
Junk that ends up in the ocean kills wildlife every day. Junk that ends up in landfills encroaches on the natural habitats of millions of animals.
If the well being of non-human life is of any importance to you, help it thrive by recycling.
8. You Will Secure Your Children’s Future
If nothing else moves you to take recycling seriously on this list, we hope the prospect of leaving your children a viable world to enjoy does.
Things like wildlife dying off, climate change, and a lack of resources are serious problems today that will evolve into dire issues in a generation or two.
Don’t let your children and their children pay for your mistakes. Take the importance of recycling to heart and start making a positive change in your world.
Wrapping Up The Importance of Recycling for Households
Our list above breaks down the importance of recycling into 8 real effects recycling (and not recycling) is having/can have on the world. If any of our points resonate with you, be a game changer and educate your family, friends, and neighbors on the merits of recycling.
If you make it a point to promote all the good recycling can do, you’ll inspire others to do the same!
For more information on how you can improve your life and the world around you, check out additional content on Let’s Be Game Changers today!