Presentation of the Arguments: Recycling

1377 Words6 Pages
Recycling has been the center of many ethical and environmental arguments for years. It’s hard for people to make the decision to recycle or not because they are so many arguments for and against recycling. The government has tried to regulate recycling but that could just be another reason for people not to do it. There are articles upon articles written about recycling persuading people to recycle, persuading them not to. What it comes down to is if one believes recycling is good for the environment and is ethical, or if the bad outweighs the good and recycling is bad and unethical. The part of the world that is for recycling argues that recycling protects the environment, recycling creates sustainable use of resources, and recycling creates green jobs and opportunities to make money off recycling. People who are against recycling argue that contamination is easily spread, recycling is too expensive and that the recycling process produces a lot of pollutants. While there are many good things that can come from recycling, there is also a dark side. During the recycling process contamination is very, easily spread. If there is contamination (impurities or toxins) in or on the original material it sometimes can make it’s way through the recycling process therefore ending up in the new, recycled product. If there were to be lead paint from a spray paint can, what happens if someone isn’t careful enough and that can is recycled into a soda can, still with the contaminants from the lead in it that will then be consumed by a soda drinker? Discover magazine reports that “any contamination in the recycle bin compromises the strength and durability of the recycled plastic that is produced, which in turn compromises its future use as a material for manufacturer.” Recycling is very expensive. According to Andrew Handley, author of 10 Ways Recycling Hurts the Environment,
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