Among the existing solutions to the problems of plastics, recycling is one of
the most convenient and easiest ways for everyone to participate in. There are various
ways to participate through government programs or programs run by environmental
organizations. More than 80% of the U.S. population has access to the curbside
program run by the government (EPA 2007, 2006 MSW Characterization Data
Tables). To make it more convenient for consumers, the curbside program requires no
sorting of recyclables but allows everything to be thrown into the bin. In addition,
there are recycling centers available at the stores in the States with active Bottle Bill.
Also as consumers, the recycling only requires one easy step of putting plastic
wastes in right bins by each individual. Unlike other possible solutions, where 65
adjustments in lifestyle are sometimes necessary to reduce or replace uses of plastics
in households, it can be done easily. Separating the plastic waste from other waste
will prevent plastics to be land filled and will allow it to be recycled with other
plastics of the same kind.
From the information we gathered about recycling programs and interviews
we had about recycling programs in foreign countries, we could say that there is still
room for improvement in recycling in the U.S. One of the things we noticed is that
countries with good recycling systems and the states even in the U.S. that have
enforced “Bottle Bill” are all geographically located near the places where negative
impact of plastics on the environment is more noticeable. Many European countries
with good recycling programs and awareness do not have enough land space to land
fill wastes or are surrounded by oceans, where plastics are accumulated on shores.
Also in the U.S., states like California, Oregon, Massachusetts and other states with
“Bottle Bill” are mostly located by the ocean, where plastics in the water accumulate
on shore affecting the ocean environment negatively. In these places, the effect of
plastic wastes on the environment is observed explicitly by many consumers which
drive national and state governments to take necessary actions. One of the ways to
encourage consumers to recycle would be to publicize and educate more people about
plastic waste and its threat to the environment.
During the interviews, most Faculty members mentioned the importance of
education and awareness in the matter. Unlike the curbside program, in most
European countries, consumers are required to take recyclables to the center and sort
them out themselves. Because consumers are required to sort recyclables themselves,
it is likely that they are more educated and aware about the plastic waste and
recycling. On the other hand, the curbside programs require no sorting to make it 66
convenient for consumers. However, this causes confusion as people take it as they
can put all recyclables in the bin while the company cannot process certain materials
and have problems in the recycling process. For example, plastic grocery bags are
excluded from the curbside program and consumers need to take them to stores to
recycle, but some people think that all plastic materials can go in the bin. Although
the zero-sorting curbside program encourages consumers to participate more in the
recycling program, people are likely to be more educated about the recycling and
sorting materials when they are directly involved in the process. Also, because they
are required to do recycling and sorting themselves, it is obvious that most people
participate out of their awareness of the negative impact plastics have on the
environment, unlike in curbside recycling where people do it because it is in a way
compulsory.
Another option for improvement would be introducing financial incentives.
The “Bottle Bill” runs based on granting financial incentives for recycling bottles.
However, there are only few states with active Bottle Bill and the Bill itself is limited
only to certain beverage bottles. Also while the curbside and recycling centers run
free, there are costs associated with throwing the trash away. People are required to
purchase their own trash bags and the bigger volume of trash means they have to
spend more on buying trash bags. The curbside is offered for free by government, but
because the cost of trash bags is not as expensive, many people seem to put
everything in the trash bag. Although not applicable in the U.S., in Germany where
they are required to sort trash themselves, the company can charge for anything sorted
in the wrong basket when they are picking up recyclables (Hamermesh 2008). More
systems with financial incentives and increasing the cost of not recycling would
definitely encourage more consumers to participate in recycling plastics.
Among the existing solutions to the problems of plastics, recycling is one ofthe most convenient and easiest ways for everyone to participate in. There are variousways to participate through government programs or programs run by environmentalorganizations. More than 80% of the U.S. population has access to the curbsideprogram run by the government (EPA 2007, 2006 MSW Characterization DataTables). To make it more convenient for consumers, the curbside program requires nosorting of recyclables but allows everything to be thrown into the bin. In addition,there are recycling centers available at the stores in the States with active Bottle Bill.Also as consumers, the recycling only requires one easy step of putting plasticwastes in right bins by each individual. Unlike other possible solutions, where 65adjustments in lifestyle are sometimes necessary to reduce or replace uses of plasticsin households, it can be done easily. Separating the plastic waste from other wastewill prevent plastics to be land filled and will allow it to be recycled with otherplastics of the same kind.From the information we gathered about recycling programs and interviewswe had about recycling programs in foreign countries, we could say that there is still by SmartSaver+ 15.1" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;" len="538">room for improvement in recycling in the U.S. One of the things we noticed is thatcountries with good recycling systems and the states even in the U.S. that haveenforced “Bottle Bill” are all geographically located near the places where negativeimpact of plastics on the environment is more noticeable. Many European countrieswith good recycling programs and awareness do not have enough land space to landfill wastes or are surrounded by oceans, where plastics are accumulated on shores.Also in the U.S., states like California, Oregon, Massachusetts and other states with“Bottle Bill” are mostly located by the ocean, where plastics in the water accumulateon shore affecting the ocean environment negatively. In these places, the effect ofplastic wastes on the environment is observed explicitly by many consumers whichdrive national and state governments to take necessary actions. One of the ways toencourage consumers to recycle would be to publicize and educate more people aboutplastic waste and its threat to the environment.During the interviews, most Faculty members mentioned the importance ofeducation and awareness in the matter. Unlike the curbside program, in mostEuropean countries, consumers are required to take recyclables to the center and sortthem out themselves. Because consumers are required to sort recyclables themselves,it is likely that they are more educated and aware about the plastic waste andrecycling. On the other hand, the curbside programs require no sorting to make it 66convenient for consumers. However, this causes confusion as people take it as theycan put all recyclables in the bin while the company cannot process certain materials
and have problems in the recycling process. For example, plastic grocery bags are
excluded from the curbside program and consumers need to take them to stores to
recycle, but some people think that all plastic materials can go in the bin. Although
the zero-sorting curbside program encourages consumers to participate more in the
recycling program, people are likely to be more educated about the recycling and
sorting materials when they are directly involved in the process. Also, because they
are required to do recycling and sorting themselves, it is obvious that most people
participate out of their awareness of the negative impact plastics have on the
environment, unlike in curbside recycling where people do it because it is in a way
compulsory.
Another option for improvement would be introducing financial incentives.
The “Bottle Bill” runs based on granting financial incentives for recycling bottles.
However, there are only few states with active Bottle Bill and the Bill itself is limited
only to certain beverage bottles. Also while the curbside and recycling centers run
free, there are costs associated with throwing the trash away. People are required to
purchase their own trash bags and the bigger volume of trash means they have to
spend more on buying trash bags. The curbside is offered for free by government, but
because the cost of trash bags is not as expensive, many people seem to put
everything in the trash bag. Although not applicable in the U.S., in Germany where
they are required to sort trash themselves, the company can charge for anything sorted
in the wrong basket when they are picking up recyclables (Hamermesh 2008). More
systems with financial incentives and increasing the cost of not recycling would
definitely encourage more consumers to participate in recycling plastics.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..