Does recycling help reduce global warming?
Question:
However, I see so many people that believe recycling will help reduce the threat of global warming. Is this simply a case of mis-information propagated by the media and interest groups, or is there actual scientific fact that supports this belief?
I realize that everyone has an opinion, but I am looking for facts that either support or debunk the notion that recycling will reduce global warming.
P.S. I realize that aluminum recycling actually does conserve energy, but I am talking about the much more widespread recycling of paper and plastic materials.
Answer:
At present, recycling isn't going to have much effect on global warming one way or the other. We haven't yet developed methods to make recycling any more energy efficient than throwing your crap away. (Despite what you've been told, recycling is never =less= efficient than throwing stuff away.)
But that's not the point. The idea of recycling is one of conservation. Anything you throw away will likely remain sitting in the ground for many thousands of years, where it's of no use to anyone. By recycling it you allow it to be reused many times over. So the point is not being wasteful.
And the more you recycle the faster waste management companies can develop ways to make it more efficient. So it's a good thing all round.
it depends on the product you are recycling. yes, recycling items such as notebook paper and such does help, but recycling things like newspaper actually doesn't help.
I suppose they figure that if we recycle more paper, then we won't cut down as much trees. Recycling will prevent our landfills from becoming so full--which they are already horrible! Recylcing is typically thrown in with everything else when they talk about environmental concerns. What's more interesting is the fact that what could help reduce the ozone levels--riding the bus or carpooling, not using air conditioners, etc.--is not stressed as much as recycling. I'm not sure if "global waming" should be as stressed as just plain taking care of the place that we live in. There's gloabl warming in other planets that don't even have people in it, so I'm not sure if it's something that can be avoided--but we definitely should be doing a better job at being good citizens on this planet!
Every little bit helps. Recycling helps prevent using all our natural resources which does help our environment. About global warming...it's actually been around since the beginning of time. Go back in history and you'll find similar global environment changes but it wasn't labeled "global warming."
Google. & you can travel around the world learning a lot about the subject.
Plastic doesn't require too much energy.
ALuminum... is probably avg.
Its more about bringing new product to market that could pollute the environment...
However... you ask if it contributes to Global Warming.
(i suppose you should have asked if ALL of us believe in Global Warming)
Is GW an issue?
Too many of us out there... think its a farce.
Why... several reasons... but... one that bothers me the most...
is that by enforcing countries to follow stricter standards... ie/ African nations... this will 'hinder' growth... (in which could be the main objective of America and other G8 countries)
If China and India and other developing nations could be like America... not only would there be more pollution... but... more resources would be consumed. and inflationary pressures would cause Global interest rates to rise...
America... will then have bigger problems battling rising DEbt and Defecit.
All and all... if War or TRADE restrictions cannot limit foreign growth... why not try to implement environmental guilt on those who are trying so hard to be like AMerica.
Yes recycling helps global warming in a very big way.
Some landfills burn their garbage, meaning that greenhouse gas is put in the air. so, recycling does help stop global warming! HOORRAY!
The answer is a mixed one.
Paper, especially newsprint will sequester carbon if it is sent to a dry landfill where it will not break down.
Plastics are neutral.
Alumininum takes a large amount of energy to recycle.
I do not think that aluminum recycling helps very much.
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