Cristina J Martinez
English 1311
Essay #4
05/04/00
Recycling
as Mandatory
Throughout the history of our planet, the earth has suffered many
transformations. Those have seriously affected marine and terrestrial ecosystems
of people, animals and plants. In general, we damage and destroy our main
environment day by day. The idea of recycling is a process that causes a
material or product to be utilized again, like its original form, or in a new
and different one. “Pure recycling is just when a product is integrated to its
natural and primitive cycle, which is the organic matter. However the concept of
recycling extends to all kinds of process, so that material or product
reincorporates to a production or consumer cycle” (Akerman, 22) Recycling is
not just a fad that the ecologists practice. I believe it is necessary that
recycling be a law to care for our natural resources, all our environment, also
it is economical and part of an ecological education.
Recycling is the most effective way to save and protect the natural
resources, which are the basic material of the food and other products that we
need in order to live. These resources are in all parts of the world, and they
make life easier. Recycled products like pasteboard, paper, glass, plastic, and
aluminum help conserve and protect trees, water, petroleum, minerals, and the
lives of some plants and animals. The clearest example is paper. Paper is made
from trees and if you recycle the daily newspaper for one year, automatically
you are saving a tree” (Reduce Garbage, Eliminate Landfills).
Recycling is an ecological activity because it protects our environment
without contaminates it. Ecology is the science that studies the preservation of
and the relationship between different ecosystems, as well as the natural
resources, their life and development. It is very important to keep the
environment clean, healthy and natural because it is our home, where we develop
our daily activities; where we eat, work, rest, live, etc. We now have the
knowledge of problems, damage, and contamination that we ourselves cause. Some
years ago a group of ecologists presented the idea of recycling as the best and
most natural way to care for our natural resources without contaminating the
water, the soil, and the air that we breathe.
Recycling is economical too, because it will not affect our economy, but
will help us to live better. We, and all our neighbors, workmates, and
classmates, can easily recycle the garbage and residues that we produce daily,
without spending so much money and time. For example, if everyone divided
organic trash from chemical trash and recycled, much more of the city’s
garbage could be recycled. “Also the recycling of aluminum is very important.
It saves 95% of the energy that it costs to produce it, and makes economic
earnings of more than 50% in cans.” (Akerman, 69)
Now, there are many people that still do not recycle. They do not know
how to recycle their own garbage. They use detergents and cleaners that damage
the environment. They pack products that do not need it; moreover, they produce
tons of garbage without recycling. First because they ignore the garbage crisis
that exists in the world, and secondly they do not have enough information about
recycling. They do not know how to do it, and they are not aware of its
benefits. Because here, in El Paso, such as in many other cities, inhabitants
have a very low level of ecological culture. Here there are many people that do
not even know the concept of recycling. Neither the government nor ecological
associations have divulged enough information about this theme to everyone who
lives in the U.S.-Mexico border. Many of my neighbors, and classmates in the
university do not know how to recycle their own garbage. Their ecological moves
are limited to throwing the garbage in the wastebasket and in collecting
aluminum cans for some association that knows how to recycle aluminum. If the
majority of the people do not know how to recycle, they will never know if the
results of recycling are good or bad for their society and environment. Also
they will never know how to use products that have been recycled. Then they will
ask themselves, why we have to recycle? For these reasons, all people must be
informed about how they can help to save the planet.
Also, recycling can be an important part of our education, and we can
have a more ecological culture that permits us to enjoy the beauty and resources
of nature without any problems of contamination, of health risks, and excess of
residues and garbage. Now, in some schools, there is a system called “The
Garbage Gremlin.” It is an invaluable tool for increasing public awareness of
this problem. Teachers are in an excellent position to enlighten our younger
citizens about how solid waste problems relate to them, and how they can
contribute to a solution” (U.S. Environmental 2).
In conclusion, recycling is an activity that benefits everybody, as much
now, as in the future. It permits us to save natural and economical resources,
protect the place where we live, and keep it clean and safe. Moreover, if
recycling becomes a law, little by little it becomes part of our daily lives,
and helps us to have ecological conscience and a more natural life-style.
e-mail
cjmartin@miners.utep.edu