Plastic Recycling
What do we do when we are done drinking a bottle of soda, or a packet of chips? Most of us just throw it in the dust bin, without a second thought.
And that seems like the right thing to do. Where else would one throw trash? But have you ever wondered what happens to these plastic bottles and packets after they go in to the bin?
Once disposed of, plastic bottles and packets, along with other items are sent to landfills. These are areas dedicated only for garbage. After a while, as it accumulates, it is burnt in an incinerator, to make room for yet some more garbage. The burning causes toxic gases to be emitted into the atmosphere, making the pollution more mobile by moving it from land to air. Some people do the same by dumping all this waste into the ocean, again transforming it from land pollution to water pollution. All of this doesn’t seem right at all, especially when one thinks of the aspects of it.
Plastic consists of a number of harmful chemicals like lead and cadmium. These are present in the form of colouring, stabilizers and plasticizers. Some of these are so harmful that they are no longer used to make the plastics. However, they do exist in older ones. Plastics do not decompose, which means that if mixed with water or soil, they do not mix in with them. When this seemingly toxic matter is sent to landfills, it ends up causing a lot of pollution. When burnt, the harmful chemicals are let out, mixing with the air we breathe. When dumped into the water, they are responsible for the death of the aquatic life that choke on this matter or get poisoned.
A solution to all this is to recycle plastic. As many negative effects plastic has on the environment, there are more positive effects by recycling it. Plastic contains oils, which are fossil fuels of the earth. As we all know, fossil fuels are depleting. So, while recycling, this oil can be replenished and reused for other purposes. Manufacturing plastic takes up a lot of energy. In comparison, recycling it does not. So we save a lot of energy in the process, which can be effectively utilized. It saves the environment, which is the most important aspect, considering the need of the hour.
It is very easy to recycle plastic, with many places offering the service. All you have to do is sort out all the items in your trash to separate the plastic items. It is as simple as that. Once recycled, the plastic is used for a number of products, such as the fuzz on tennis balls, paintbrushes, drainpipes, flowerpots, etc.
Now that we are informed about the ill effects of plastic in the environment, and the variety of positive aspects of recycling it; we all know what our decision should be. Each and every one of us must choose to live a more responsible life, and recycle, to make the world a better place.
