Throw Away the Attitude, Recycle

How many people in here know somebody who reads the newspaper including themselves? Raise your hand. “If all of our newspapers were recycled, we could save about 250 million trees each year!” (Do Something) How many people in here drink soda, teas, energy drinks, milk or know somebody who does? Raise your hand. “A typical family consumes 182 gallons of soda, 29 gallons of juice, 104 gallons of milk, and 26 gallons of bottled water a year” (Do Something). “About 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable, yet our recycling rate is only 28%” (Do Something). If Americans fail to take action and be proactive about recycling, America may suffer consequences that will ultimately destroy the environment and therefore all of our homes. Recycling saves energy, conserves natural resources, limits pollution, and supports several sectors of the economy.
Recycling is simple and anyone can help contribute to save our planet; paper, plastic, and glass are three examples of products that can be recycled! Paper can be placed with multiple other pieces like cardboard. “30 percent of all paper products consumed in this country are recycled, turning up in cereal boxes, toilet paper, even bedding for farm animals.” (Garbage Crisis). Plastic should not be thrown in the trash for it will be neglected in a landfill since plastic is not biodegradable. “The U.S. produces 62 billion pounds of plastic resins annually. Yet only 1 percent of plastics is recaptured.” (Garbage Crisis). Glass should not be thrown away because it is breakable and doesn’t degrade. “Reusing old glass also costs less. Only 13 percent of glass is recycled.” (Garbage Crisis). Recycling is easy! However, if we fail to even do little tasks such as sorting our bottles and trash we may face bigger problems ahead.
“The amount of trash that the United States produces has tripled in the past 50 years. At that rate, we will be producing nearly a billion tons of trash a year by 2060” (Recycling Basis). If Americans neglect to recycle our future isn’t looking as bright as a light bulb anymore. Not only are we wasting energy now which drives up the bills, but overall cost efficiency as well. We are stealing the earth’s natural resources which are at a limited amount, and there may come a critical time where we find we have run out of natural oils and gasses (Recycling Is Not Garbage).
To avoid disastrous consequences, recycle! It may take energy to recycle, however, recycling gives back the energy for industry and homes to use (Chewonki). “Another way to look at it: recycling 1 can = 3 hours of TV” (Affluent Magazine). Polluting our environment is not only harmful for your health, but the health of the earth. “Recycling just half of your annual recyclable household waste saves 2400 pounds of CO2 being released into the atmosphere” (Affluent Magazine). Natural Resources are limited, and Americans must be cautious about the amount they are using, because such resources like oil are not plentiful, or cheap. “4% of U.S. annual oil consumption, or roughly 219 million barrels of oil, goes into the manufacture of plastic.” (Affluent Magazine). With the Economy suffering after economic collapse, jobs are needed, a recycling job is beneficial for both the environment and a person facing unemployment. “The National Recycling Coalition reports that recycling has created 1.1 million jobs” (Affluent Magazine). Recycling contributes to the community, not only here in America, but worldwide. “The new bright orange schoolhouse in Granados, Guatemala has walls built with used plastic bottles—and so much other plastic waste that the team who built it had to go to neighboring villages to collect waste because they used up all the trash in their own” (Cernansky). A whole entire school house was made out of plastic material, talk about reusing and inspirational! In conclusion, recycling gives back to your community, and the environment.
Anyone can be a helping hand and do their part to keep our environment clean and safe! Industries already possess the ability to make plastic from renewable materials, to make buildings that enhance their natural environment rather than harm it, and to design disposable products which safely biodegrade, however with the effort of the public, none of this is able to happen. Unless Americans take a more responsible role in recycling today, we are going to all be dead tomorrow (EPA). So, sort your trash. It is easy to recycle most household products and it will only take a little of your time.

Works Cited
"11 Facts about Recycling." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
Brennan, Jason. "Affluent Magazine - The Authority on Lifestyle." Reasons Why You Should Recycle. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
"Chewonki Zero Waste Poster | Imagine A World Without Garbage." Chewonki Zero Waste Poster | Imagine A World Without Garbage. Chewonki, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
Cernansky, Rachel. "6,000 Plastic Bottles Some Dedicated Villagers = New Schoolhouse in Guatemala." TLC. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012
Denison, Richard A., and John F. Ruston. "Recycling Is Not Garbage." Technology Review. Oct. 1997: 55-60. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 10 Dec 2012.
Griffin, Rodman D. "Garbage Crisis." CQ Researcher. 20 Mar 1992: 243+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 10 Dec 2012.
"Recycling Basics." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

Cited: "11 Facts about Recycling." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. Brennan, Jason. "Affluent Magazine - The Authority on Lifestyle." Reasons Why You Should Recycle. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. "Chewonki Zero Waste Poster | Imagine A World Without Garbage." Chewonki Zero Waste Poster | Imagine A World Without Garbage. Chewonki, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. Cernansky, Rachel. "6,000 Plastic Bottles Some Dedicated Villagers = New Schoolhouse in Guatemala." TLC. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012 Denison, Richard A., and John F. Ruston. "Recycling Is Not Garbage." Technology Review. Oct. 1997: 55-60. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 10 Dec 2012. Griffin, Rodman D. "Garbage Crisis." CQ Researcher. 20 Mar 1992: 243+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 10 Dec 2012. "Recycling Basics." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.