Recyling. In this CDA I will include what Recycling is, why people do it, why people dont do it, the affects waste have on our environment and the advantages and disadvantages of recycling. I will also include my research of Bradley Stoke (the to

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Recycling CDA

Recycling is a process done worldwide. However, approximately 65% of the world population do not recycle, and knowing the benefits of recycling 40% of the world’s population still doesn’t.  According to a website ‘9 out of 10 people who do not recycle, would recycle if made easier’.  Shockingly, in 2003/4 30.5 million tonnes of waste were produced by UK households and only 17% was collected for recycling (according to defra.gov.uk). Every year the UK is producing more and more waste and now it is said we generate approximately 100 million tons of waste a year (total from households, industry and commercial) of which a large proportion can be recycled.

At school we have been studying pollution and the affects it has on the environment, what causes it and how we can avoid/prevent it from happening.  Recycling is one of the ways but although it may benefit us, there are people against it because of the disadvantages.  In this CDA I will include what Recycling is, why people do it, why people don’t do it, the affects waste have on our environment and the advantages and disadvantages of recycling. I will also include my research of ‘Bradley Stoke’ (the town I live in) and how recycling is used in this area and how it can be improved, and how people can be more aware of the benefits. I will also include my opinion- if I think recycling is good or whether I think it is bad.  

What is recycling?

Recycling is converting waste products into new materials, such as recycling old newspapers to make new paper.  

How does recycling help the environment?

  • Recycling reduces landfills.

A definition of what a landfill is (given on Wikipedia): ‘A landfill, also known as a dump or rubbish dump (and historically as a ), is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment.’

Microbes act on the waste as the material begins to break down, and together with chemical reactions, gas is produced.  This gas is approximately 40%-60% methane, and the remaining gas mostly carbon dioxide. The gas also has nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour, sulphur and other condiments.  

Methane in the atmosphere is a powerful greenhouse gas; the gas is between 20 to 50 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.  So by reducing landfills, less carbon dioxide and methane are realised into the atmosphere and therefore

                                                     

  • Recycling reduces contamination.

Contamination is when unwanted substances mix with materials.  

When mobile phones and other electrical devices are thrown away, the batteries inside are very harmful towards the environment.  The chemicals can harm the environment and humans if come in contact (swallowing or breathing in the atmosphere).  However, unfortunately these chemicals may reach some of our foods such as food and other seafood. This is because the water and air become contaminated by these substances, as the water passes over these components and the chemicals leak into the soil and the water underground. In the end, the chemicals underground spread and soon contaminate streams, wells and even rivers.

  • Recycling saves resources

To make paper and cardboard (etc), trees have to be chopped and due to this there has to be reforestation (the planting of new trees) and that may take a long time for the trees to grow. Chopping down trees will take away the habitats of animals, and more species may become extinct, therefore reducing the biodiversity.

If newspapers, paper, junk mail etc come from recycled materials, then a lot of trees are saved, and therefore habitats are also saved and so are many species of animals. This means that recycling can help increase biodiversity and reduce extinction of animals and plants.

What things can be recycled?

Many things can be recycled today such as:

  • Paper products (books, cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, shredded paper etc)
  • DIY and garden (bricks and building rubble and soil)
  • Glass (bottles, jars, sheet glass etc)
  • Metals (aerosols, food cans, tin foil etc)
  • Liquid and chemicals (paint and engine oil)
  • Plastic (carrier bags, yoghurt pots, shampoo bottles, plastic detergent bottles etc)
  • Textiles ( clothes and shoes)
  • Electronics (dishwashers, computer monitors, batteries, television sets etc)

Other (beds, tables, CDs, bicycles, toys, keys, musical instruments, video tapes etc)

Although there are many things that can be recycled, not all of them are available for collection by your local council.

The following items are accepted by South Gloucestershire to be collected (Bradley Stoke’s council)

 

  • Aerosol cans
  • Batteries/Car batteries/household batteries  
  • Clothes
  • Drinks cans
  • Glass
  • Kitchen foil
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Paper

  • Recycling textiles
  • Shoes

Why do people recycle?

People recycle for various different reasons. Some believe that it will help save the environment, whilst others believe it will reduce costs, and some people believe that if they recycle, then the earth will be a cleaner place.  Also, many people recycle so that new, useful things are made out of useless waste, and therefore resources are more sustainable.  In some places, recycling is very easy, and so people can recycle more readily and with less effort.

People believe that materials are wasted if they are ...

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