recycling+(Allison+Crosby)

RECYCLING **What Is Recyclying?** Recycling is taking materials that you are finished using and tranforming them into new products to be reused (Department of Environmental Protection, 2009). You can recycle many materials like glass, paper, plastic, and aluminum. These products are used everyday and then taken to a plant to be metamorphasized into new materials that can be used as if for the first time (College of New Jersey, 2003)!

There are various beneficial reasons behind recycling materials for original use. Recycling is cost efficient. It costs much more (about three times as much) to put recyclable products into a landfill than it does to recreate and recycle the original materials. Reusing materials often times doesn't cost us anything (Spirit Recycling, 2002)! Not only is recycling saving money, but it gives the ability to create job opoprtunities! In the various stages of recycling, people are necessary to transform the materials from old to new. Recycling is efficient for energy. It helps reduce the consumption of energy by eliminating the initial steps of production from the raw materials. By reducing the industrial production used to process these raw materials we are able to help minimize the greenhouse gas emissions. In taking materials that have already been used and restoring them it helps save the natural resources so future generations will have them. This also contributes to maintaining and also restoring the balance of nature. Unless we begin to recycle more often and be more conservative with our usage of materials, the space in the landfills will be filled up. Once the space is gone, we won't have anywhere to put our wastes. It is a scary thought, especially realizing that much of the materials found in landfills are recyclable and could be put to use instead of taking up space in a limited landfill (Ghosh, 2008).
 * What problem(s) is it trying to address?**


 * It is also important to save energy in other ways such as using solar energy, electric cars, nuclear energy, hybrid vehicles, and wind energy and even practice green builing. **

It is always useful to recycle! After you use paper, aluminum, cardboard, glass, tin, and plastic you should bring the materials to a place that can recycle these materials to be transformed and used again (Sterling, 2007)!
 * When is it useful?**

Recycling relates most distinctly with the carbon cycle because when we recycle we have to transport the material to special plants. In this process we use vehicles that emit carbon dioxide and methane into the air. This leads to greenhouse gases that trap heat on the earth and hold us responsible for global warming. However, we can also say that by recycling paper we are saving trees that would otherwise be cut down for paper use. In this way we are restoring oxygen to the atmosphere and creating a more balanced cycle. This balance is harmony for the carbon cycle (M. Dowling, public presentation, September 24, 2009).  [] This photo is a representation of restoring oxygen into the air through plants. These plants that are going to restore oxygen are only on the earth because of recycling. This has allowed the plants that would otherwise be cut down to make paper, to flourish. Ultimately helping to restore balance to the carbon cycle. 
 * How does that topic relate to one or more of the nutrient cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, water) discussed in class? Explain.**

**Is it a viable solution to protect the biosphere? Explain.** Yes, recycling is a way to conserve energy and use and reuse what we currently have. Because everything in nature is connected, each action we do to save and thoroughly use the resources we have, the better off the entire earth. Each individual has the choice to recycle or not. Individually, the difference is not substantial, however the world is made up of individuals working together. Together, people recycling could make a difference. The energy we save and instead of wasting reuse is the difference we can make (Ikerd, 2007).

Some people say that recycling paper is worse for the environment than not recycling. The trucks and methods of transporting materials to recycling centers is polluting the air (Pollution Recycling, 2007). Ultimately, this is not only polluting the air but the soil and water as well due to connections in the environment. **There are ways to minimize the amount of pollution in the water and soil with** bioremediation**.** Some plants for recycling have cut off the paper recycling process because the costs for news print has risen so much that it is no longer cost effective. Instead Manitoba (a providence in Canada) is cutting down trees to make more paper because it is less expensive. Being that this company is dedicated to conserving trees, they will most likely replant the trees they have cut down (Kachan, 2008).
 * What are the possible consequences to the environment?**

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 * This short video is a way to help one think outside of the box, inspire one to be innovative in creating, and to remind one that you can recycle anything!**
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 * Works Cited **

Ikerd, John (2007, July 5). Recycling for Sustainability. Retrieved October 18, 2009, from Missouri Recycling Association Web site: []

Kachan, Dallas (2008, March 25). Recycling and the law of unintended consequences. Retrieved October 18, 2009, from Cleantech Web site: []  What is Recycling?. Retrieved October 18, 2009, from The College of New Jersey Web site: []

Sterling, Evan (2007). When to recycle. Retrieved October 18, 2009, from Ohio Northern University Recycling Program Web site: []

(2002). Working together to save our environment. Retrieved October 18, 2009, from Spirit Recycling Web site: []

(2007, September 18). What are some (NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE) consequences on RECYCLING?”. Retrieved October 18, 2009, from Hybrid Answers Web site: http://jporchanian.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/what-are-some-negative-or-positive-consequences-on-recycling/ <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">(2009). What is Recycling?. Retrieved October 18, 2009, from Department of Environmental Protection Web site: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/justforkids/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=469934