Recycling Vs. Landfills or Incinerators

Limited landfill space and strict air pollution regulations affecting incineration can drive communities to search for other waste management options.
••• Digital Vision/Digital Vision/Getty Images

The average recycling rate for U.S. communities is about 34 percent, leaving 164 million tons of trash to be buried in landfills or incinerated without energy recovery. And while waste management options vary in convenience, affordability, environmental protection and local availability, life cycle assessments have provided information regarding the benefits of each. A review of some of the waste management strategies available in the United States uncovers myriad reasons why recycling is more beneficial than either landfilling or incineration.

Recycling Conserves Natural Resources

Placing a newspaper or plastic water bottle in the recycling bin rather than the garbage can is the first step in the recycling loop. This simple choice reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators and allows these materials to re-enter the manufacturing process. Producing new products with recycled materials conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals. In fact, recycling even 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees and more than 26,000 liters (7,000 gallons) of water.

Recycling Reduces Air Pollution

One of the leading concerns with landfilling and combustion of waste is the potential for air pollution. Landfilled waste produces methane gas, and incineration can release heavy metals and toxic chemicals into the air. Conversely, recycling can cut air pollution substantially. For example, manufacturing glass from recycled materials reduces air pollution by 20 percent and using recycled aluminum and paper can reduce air pollution by 95 percent when compared to production of these products from virgin materials.

Recycling Conserves Energy

Manufacturing an aluminum can from recycled materials takes 95 percent less energy than creating the same can from virgin materials. And while some energy can be recovered from the methane gas released from landfills or through waste incineration, it is significantly less than the amount of energy saved through manufacturing with recycled materials. This still holds true even after accounting for energy usage during collection, processing and transportation to end-use markets for recycled materials.

Recycling Creates Jobs

Waste disposal can be accomplished with a small labor force, while closing the recycling loop requires a much larger number of employees.
••• Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images

According to the national report "More Jobs, Less Pollution," achieving a national recycling rate of 75 percent in the United States by 2030 would result in an additional 1.5 million jobs. These estimates were reached by researching the number of jobs required to complete the recycling process compared to the disposal (landfilling or incineration) of the same waste. The findings indicate that waste disposal generates the fewest jobs per ton of waste at 0.1 jobs per 1,000 tons of waste, while recycling generates 2 jobs per 1,000 tons.

Related Articles

How Does Recycling Paper Affect the Environment?
Different Methods of Waste Disposal
The Effect of Recycling Plastic Water Bottles on the...
Methods of Domestic Waste Disposal
Why Is Reuse Important?
What Are the Benefits of Biodegradable Plastic?
The Cost to Recycle Aluminum Vs. Plastic
Plastic Bottle Vs. Aluminum Can
Is Recycling Copper Good for the Environment?
How can we prevent land pollution?
The Effects of Not Recycling
The Advantages of a Solid Waste Incinerator
Is Styrofoam Biodegradable?
What Is the Carbon Footprint of a Plastic Bottle?
The Advantages of Recycling Copper
Top 10 Reasons to Reduce, Recycle & Reuse
How Can Recycling Help Prevent Pollution?
Negative Effects of Paper Wastes
Difference Between a Renewable & Recyclable Resource
Aluminum Can Recycling Pros & Cons

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!