The Implementation of Recycling Programs - Essay Example

The Implementation of Recycling Programs xxxxx xxxx xxxx of XXXXX The paper seeks to address the issues pertaining to the implementation of recycling programs in urban areas, their effectiveness and their benefits as opposed to not having a recycling program. Matters relating to the very basis and need of these recycling programs along with the facts derived from such programs that benefit humanity will be discussed. These programs are considered, by some, as more costly than the actual disposal of materials while on the other hand most people in a community promote recycling programs as opposed to a limited number of people who differ in their opinion. What the core problem is that a society in which a recycling program is considered ineffective; actually lacks experience, for these programs provide better and better results with proper development with time. The Implementation of Recycling Programs What happens with a common household ‘dustbin’ or a ‘garbage-can’, as most people would refer it to, is that after being filled to its brim it starts to spill the waste out, evidently due to the limited space it has for the purpose of storing garbage. But space doesn’t matter nowadays, does it? One can clearly incinerate the garbage and use the dustbin for collecting more garbage and then incinerate that too, but would the ‘effects’ of that burning garbage be healthy for the environment? Of course most people don’t tend to care about it and consider using their resources to better purposes than caring about the environment, but would the ‘cost’ of constantly burning that garbage, the ‘energy’ used in clearing the bin and the transportation of that garbage be so minor to be easily sacrificed? Our planet is the metaphorical ‘dust bin’ and clearly we (humans) have polluted it for long, but it is only now that emphasis is being laid on the preservation of our resources and our environment; reflecting that our environmental condition has reached a critical point. The latest effort to preserve what’s left of our once rich environment and to clean what we have messed up, includes recycling; the reprocessing of materials to save fresh raw materials, energy and save the environment from numerous pollutants. Recycling programs are methods or ways we adopt which consequently help us recycle. To address the issue of their implementation in urban areas we must first consider the importance and the need of recycling programs in urban areas. Developed cities tend to be more artificial with respect to the natural environment and the more different they are the more harm they cause. Take a big metropolitan city for an example, everything from garbage, littering, smoke to gases and toxic materials are present; heavy amounts of which are and have been constantly injected into our environment which deteriorates as a consequence. What this pollution does, is effect some people psychologically, to some the damage to the environment is too physical and to some it affects economically. Unfortunately a community within us exists that does not consider the matter of any significance, but that’s just not the topic to be illustrated on here. People affected psychologically tend to form groups and communities with people with similar thoughts and work in unity to improve their way of life for the sake of the environment. Whereas people who get affected economically; tend to find ways to eliminate the problem for the sake of their finances. While the third kind can just rattle with banners and slogans and hope that someone pays attention to what they say. In all cases, what really matters is that most people react in a positive manner to the worsening environment around us and one of the ways to express their concerns is through the implementation of processes that could help them save the environment i.e. recycling. Commonly recycling programs surface due to some politician’s influence or political needs but the fact that they sustain for a longer term assures the support of the public, which is necessary for any recycling program to function properly and depict effectiveness. Recycling programs are easy to implement but harder to sustain since the primary factor behind the program’s implementation is always a basic need and when that is fulfilled the program looses importance in the eyes of the public. However, public dedication is the only way to implement and sustain recycling programs. Some opinions about recycling programs are that they themselves are a waste of energy and resources. “Government mandated recycling is more expensive than putting the garbage into landfills” (John Tierney, 1996). He was of the opinion that the energy consumed in recycling is more a wastage as compared to simple conventional methods of disposal. His opinion was backed by Michael Munger; who was the chair of the political sciences at Duke University, and wrote an article in 2007: ... If recycling is more expensive than using new materials, it cant possibly be efficient... There is a simple test for determining whether something is a resource... or just garbage... If someone will pay you for the item, its a resource... But if you have to pay someone to take the item away... then the item is garbage (Michael Munger, 2007). These opinions are mostly based on very initial analysis of a recycling program. For instance, in some countries it might be that a recycle truck, during the curb side recycling program; be followed by a garbage truck collecting garbage. Such errors do exist but at a very initial level. The cost for this particular example of a recycling program may be high due to the very obvious facts but it improves with experience; these programs evolve and adopt better ways of handling and recycling. Many Recycling Programs have proven to be of much use to the environment. Examples include Programs established at U.S. Postal Service – Dallas District which saved $564,000 by recycling paper and undeliverable mail along with some cardboard. This program was successful in achieving its results of pure profit simply because the program was given enough time to establish itself fundamentally and as a consequent of which; function properly. What the problem with these modern recycling programs is that their assessment is conducted immediately after their implementation which then shows results in negative. What a community requires, concerning a recycling program, are the proper educational development of their minds with regards to the recycling program and the clarification of the fact that such programs do not show results immediately. Thus given the time by the public and their complete devotion to the program; would surely bring positive results. Commonly established recycling programs include programs related to the recycling of: Concrete. Batteries. Bio-Degradable waste. Clothing. Glass. Paint. Paper. Plastic. And numerous other items. Each one of the listed items (and many of those not listed) is reusable and can benefit in a positive manner after we think that we’re done with it. The only fact remains is whether the community will support the implementation of recycling programs knowing that many programs around do consequent in positive or would they choose the conventional methods of garbage disposal? References Jane S. Shaw. "Recycling." The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. 2008. Library of Economics and Liberty. Retrieved April 6, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://econlib.org/library/Enc/Recycling.html Michael Munger. "Think Globally, Act Irrationally: Recycling." July 2, 2007. Library of Economics and Liberty. Retrieved April 6, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://econlib.org/library/Columns/y2007/Mungerrecycling.html Tierney, J. (1996, June 30). Recycling is Garbage. New York Times , 3. Read More