Recycling should be Mandatory for Everyone

With the growing focus on environmental issues, experts have advocated for recycling. The move has been informed by the positive outcomes of using recycling as means of addressing environmental degradation. However, despite the growing supports for recycling, some people have opposed it citing several shortcomings. Their argument is based on an increase in the wastage of resources. Based on the opposing point view, it high time to evaluate the positive and negative effects of recycling. The outcome of the analysis will form the basis for making recycling a mandatory practice for everyone.

Recycling aid in the conservation of the world's natural resources. The emphasis on the need to recycle material has reduced the volume of natural resources extracted from the environment (Bartl). For example, by recycling paper, the industry demand for timber has declined. As a result, the level of deforestation will be maintained at a sustainable level. If the world makes it a mandatory practice, then more forest cover will be protected since paper can be recycled seven times. Therefore, it will take time before the demand is created.

Implementing a mandatory policy of recycling aids in reducing the volume of pollution to the environment. Factories such as paper mills cause a lot of pollution to the environment. if demand for their products increases, then the level of pollution also goes up. Currently, the paper mills have been ranks as the third leading industry in environmental pollution (Vijay, 31). The mills cause water, air, and land pollution. Therefore, by sensitizing the society on the need to recycle paper, it reduces the volume of mill factor production. As a result, the potential impact of pollution such climatic change will a thing of history.

Recycling reduces the volume of waste materials on landfill thus limiting the prevalence of health problem. Cases, where people embrace the practice of recycling, have recorded a decrease in the volume of waste on landfill (Omid et al). The effect was felt without making cycling as mandatory prices. Therefore, if it were to be made a mandatory practice, better results will be achieved. The policy aids in shaping the behavior of people towards the treatment of reusable materials. Most people will be motivated to embrace the practice of recycling for fear of action. As a result, the health issues associated will filled landfills will decline.

However, recycling has contributed to the wastage of resources. Most people were motivated to use more of the available product when recycling measures were implemented. Studies conducted on the restroom papers indicated the volume of usage increased tremendously when recycle bin were used (Wang & Catlin, 126). The finding affirms that recycling will increase paper consumption.
Based on the above arguments, the benefits of recycling outweigh its costs. Recycling has proven to be an efficient and cost-effective way of addressing environmental issues. However, research indicates that educating people on the benefits of recycling may not aid in conserving the resources (Wang & Catlin, 127). Therefore, the world should make it a mandatory practice that every individual should practice. The policy makes should come out and makes it a law requiring businesses and consumers to recycle materials such as paper and aluminum containers.

Recycling has both benefits and shortcomings. It aids in the conservation of natural resources such as a forest. Through recycling, the volume level of deforestation will decline as demand for more paper decreases. Also, it leads to a decline in environmental pollution as industry activities will be limited. Through recycling, only a small volume of waste materials finds their way into the landfill thus protecting from the health problems. However, the implementing recycling option has contributed to wastage of resources. Research indicates that implementing recycling option leads to an increase in material uses.

Work Cited

• Bartl, Andreas. Moving from Recycling to Waste Prevention: A Review of Barriers. Sage Publication (2015)
• Omid, Nodoushani, Carol, Stewart, & Manpreet, Kaur. Recycling and Its Effect on The Environment. Questia (2017).
• Vijay, Kumar. Recycling of Waste and Used Paper: A Useful Contribution in Conservation of Environment: A Case Study. IOS Press (2017): 31-37
• Wang, Yitong & Catlin, Jesse. Recycling Gone Bad: When The Option to Recycle Increases Resource Consumption. Journal of Consumer Psychology. (2013): 122-127

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