By KEYNA CORY
Recycling is more than just a responsible habit; it’s a vital practice for the future of our environment. This is a particularly timely topic, as Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than any other time of the year. In today’s rapidly industrializing global marketplace, the consumption of resources is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. Without the widespread commitment to robust recycling programs, the planet’s natural resources could be depleted, contributing to environmental degradation and the acceleration of climate change. Recycling offers a practical solution to these challenges by promoting material circularity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and preserving natural resources.
One of the core benefits of recycling is its ability to promote material circularity, a concept that focuses on keeping resources in use for as long as possible. In a circular economy, materials are continuously cycled back into production rather than being discarded as waste. For example, when paper, plastic, or metal products are recycled, they are broken down and used to create new products, eliminating the need to extract raw materials. This reduces the burden on natural ecosystems, as fewer trees need to be cut down, fewer ores need to be mined, and less energy is consumed in the creation of new materials. By minimizing the production of waste and promoting the reuse of existing materials, recycling helps move us closer to a sustainable, circular economy.
Recycling also plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which are the primary drivers of climate change. The production of new products from raw materials requires a significant amount of energy, much of which comes from burning fossil fuels. This process releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. However, recycling often requires much less energy compared to manufacturing with virgin materials. For example, recycling aluminum saves up to 95 percent of the energy needed to produce new aluminum from bauxite ore. As a result, recycling helps to reduce the overall carbon footprint of manufacturing processes, mitigating the impact of global warming.
Moreover, recycling helps preserve finite natural resources that are becoming increasingly scarce. Every year, vast amounts of forests are destroyed, water supplies depleted, and minerals extracted to meet the growing demand for consumer products. Through recycling, these resources can be conserved. For instance, recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees, while recycling metals reduces the need for mining, which often damages ecosystems and pollutes water sources.
In Florida, in a 2023 study by the Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, researchers concluded that, “a targeted recyclables program that focuses on a smaller suite of materials (cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, PET and HDPE plastics) can provide local governments a more optimized system that allows them to continue to offer residents and businesses access to recycling that maximize the value of the materials collected while lowering the program’s net costs.”
The study also found that dropping a municipal recycling program can result in adverse environmental impacts (.34 to 2.4 times more greenhouse gas emissions) and hastening the depletion of remaining landfill capacity in a region.
The Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation is a coalition of leading Florida businesses and associations dedicated to improving Florida’s recycling rates. Our members are proactively implementing initiatives in their organizations to reduce the waste they produce and increase their recycling and sustainability programs. Additionally, our companies are working to create greater recycling opportunities for residents and businesses in Florida.
The Florida Recycling Partnership believes it is important for local governments and policy makers to implement and maintain comprehensive recycling programs for businesses and residential customers that include curbside recycling collection for all households, including multifamily housing.
In conclusion, recycling is an essential practice for protecting the environment. By embracing material circularity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and conserving natural resources, recycling helps create a more sustainable world for future generations.
Keyna Cory is the Executive Director of the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation.
