Social responsibility Paper
Running Head: Recycling Around the World 1
Recycling Around the World 6
Recycling Around the World
Student Name
PSYCH 2301.7….
Professor Ott
Date
Abstract
Recycling seems like a very small and non-significant gesture from the human race, but in reality, recycling is much more important than we think. Ever since I was in elementary school, I have heard about how important recycling is, and how much it helps the environment, but I did not truly understand as to “why” until now. Recycling is important for several reasons, one of the reasons being that it helps reduce pollution. Whenever the trash at landfills sit for so long, they start releasing harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide and methane) into our atmosphere. If us as humans could start recycling a lot more, we could even help preserve our rainforests, which everyone knows, is dying at a fast pace. Everyone by now has seen a picture (or a few), on how much the trash we throw out effect even the animals in our ocean. Not all countries recycle, but those who do, have different methods as to how to get people to participate. We need to start caring for our planet earth, our only home.
Recycling Around the World and Its Importance
Like I stated before, recycling has a major effect on our environment and whether we realize it or not, recycling affects us, humans, daily. Sustainability is defined as “avoidance of the depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance,” with this being said, we as humans depend (whether directly or indirectly) on our environment, which is why protection our Earth is so important. According to UAF, if we reduce the impact of the resource processing, more clean water would be available for use, which would also improve our health because there would be less pollution. Therefore, we would live a healthier life on earth. There are several different ways we could use the waste we create and turn it into something useful, in fact, some of the countries with the highest recycling percentage do just that.
I believe that culture plays a very big part in how we care about our environment. Foreign countries seem to care more about the environment and are willing to do whatever they came to keep it clean. An example of a country that takes great pride in being clean is Japan. Japan is one of the cleanest cities in the world, they take pride in their city and making sure it looks nice. Culture shouldn’t stop us on doing what's right, the only thing we need to work on is communication and a better understanding on what recycling is. I think the biggest issue is lack of knowledge, because if there is no relevant knowledge how can people spread the word about how important matters are.
Research
It is no surprise that the United States does not measure up to the world’s top recycling nations, according to a Forbes article, out of the 34 different countries, the United States comes in at 18th place! Not the best but also not the worst. The U.S has tried to encourage people to recycle by putting a 5-10 cent value on cans or bottles, but even then, only 32% of the total waste in the United States is recycled (babble.com). According to the research I have done, Germany leads the scoreboard at a whopping recycling rate of 65%, then comes Switzerland with 51%, Sweden with 50%, and lastly, the United States at 32-35%. I believe the reason why these countries have such high recycling rates is that they find the use of the waste, for example,
They take these dead animals to a facility nearby and use them by rendering their fat which is later used in lip balms and other products. Another incentive that Germany uses to push their citizens to recycle is by charging them for garbage disposal. For a 60-liter bin, you would have to pay approximately $9 USD (the bigger the bin, the higher the price), which does add up, BUT recycling is free! (babble.com). In Switzerland, the country charges for their disposal of junk; an expensive grey bag that can range anywhere from $1.64 to $9.60 EACH. Therefore, people are careful as to what they throw out. Switzerland also placed a landfill ban, meaning that all non-recycled waste must be incinerated. Makes sense why their recycling rate is one of the highest in the world! Sweden has always been known to have a passion for recycling; they always try to be ahead of the game. By burning up the waste, Sweden is capable of powering a quarter of a million homes, which is completely amazing! Another fun fact about Sweden’s recycling statistic is that at one point they ran out of garbage and started accepting trash from Norway!
Critical thinking
I have always been interested and informed on how important recycling is, but during the research process, I have learned a lot more than I expected. Mother earth is fragile, and we must take care of her, it is the only place we can call home. I believe that as a young person I must keep my family informed as to why recycling is important, and the small steps we can take that would make a huge difference.
References
Carriere, and Nadia Carriere. “Recycling Around the World: 7 Practices We Should Adopt from Other Countries.” Babble, Babble, 2013, www.babble.com/travel/recycling-around-the-world-7-practices-we-should-adopt-from-other-countries/ .
McCarthy, Niall. “The Countries Winning The Recycling Race [Infographic].” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 4 Mar. 2016, www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2016/03/04/the-countries-winning-the-recycling-race-infographic/#515ede272b3d .
“Why Is Recycling Important.” Why-Recycle | Office of Sustainability, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 6 Dec. 2017, 15:19, www.uaf.edu/sustainability/recycling-program/why-recycle/index.xml .