| Greenhouse gas emissions are known to be | | | | recycled, up to 70% of energy is saved. If paper |
| directly related to the perceived heightened | | | | is the substance being recycled, up to 40% of |
| warming of the earth's oceans and near-surface | | | | energy is saved. When less energy is used to |
| air. But how does recycling help in cutting back on | | | | produce a product, that means less greenhouse |
| greenhouse gas emissions? | | | | gases are emitted into the atmosphere, which |
| Recycling is used to refer to the reprocessing of | | | | helps reduce the impact on the environment |
| previously manufactured products (such as plastic | | | | through the greenhouse effect. |
| bottles) so that their core elements (in this case, | | | | Energy is also saved because there is less of the |
| the plastic substances that make up plastic | | | | virgin or raw materials that has to be sought |
| bottles) can be used to make new products later | | | | after, there is less energy needed to transport |
| on. It should be clarified that recycling is different | | | | these virgin materials from their original sources, |
| from re-use, because the latter simply means | | | | and there is less energy to be expended trying to |
| that the previously manufactured product (such | | | | clean up the environment when pollutants like |
| as a plastic bottle) will be used for other purposes | | | | non-biodegradable aluminum and plastic containers |
| aside from its original use (such as when a plastic | | | | are dumped into landfills. |
| bottle is cut in half and then converted into a plant | | | | Some criticize recycling since there is still a level |
| container.) | | | | of energy required to transport recyclables to |
| When previously manufactured products are | | | | recycling centers and recycling plants, and in the |
| recycled, this helps in reducing the amount of | | | | recycling process itself. However, the energy |
| energy used to produce new products (compared | | | | savings derived from recycling are considerable, |
| to "virgin production" where products that are | | | | and much less energy will be used to make new |
| manufactured from substances that were taken | | | | products from recyclables compared to the use |
| purely from the earth's environment – also | | | | of virgin materials for manufacturing new |
| known as raw materials.) One substance that has | | | | products. Another criticism is that recycling can |
| been quite damaging to the environment is plastic, | | | | become impractical because the cumulative costs |
| because it does not degrade and become | | | | for recycling a certain product may outweigh the |
| re-absorbed into the environment. There is also | | | | environmental benefits derived from recycling. |
| less waste that goes into disposal systems such | | | | Despite such criticisms, it is generally accepted |
| as landfills when recycling is put into play. | | | | nowadays that recycling does help the |
| When products are recycled, there is less need to | | | | environment by significantly reducing demands on |
| look for raw materials from virgin sources. For | | | | energy supplies, so that less greenhouse gases |
| example, aluminum is one substance which can be | | | | are emitted, and can be a cost-effective solution |
| recycled over and over again without a decline in | | | | in certain cases. |
| the quality of the substance. When plastic is | | | | |