Through our everyday lives, we all create some form of solid waste. Whether it be trash, plastic bottles, recycled paper, or other materials, it is considered municipal waste. The amount of waste varies between households, regions, and years, but the amount generated is always large. The environmental protection agency found that the total waste generated in 2017 was 267.8 million tons.
To greatly reduce the amount of this waste that negatively affects the planet, we must take action to recycle. Recycling is the method of reusing materials to reduce waste. It reduces environmental impact as well as reducing energy required to make new products. A study found that by recycling all of the paper used, the amount of power used would be reduced by 33%. Not only would recycling reduces the amount of energy used, it would also reduce gaseous, liquid, and solid waste. The gaseous waste would contribute to greenhouse gases, so recycling also helps to reduce climate change.
Another study found the recycling shopping bags greatly reduced the power requirement of the plants. Both paper and plastic bags should be recycled, as recycling them can greatly reduce the amount of energy required. Energy usage would be reduced by 28% if plastic bags were all recycled.
