With the population rapidly growing over the past several decades, the environment has become one of our primary concerns as a society. As we continue to use more of our natural resources and generate more waste, recycling becomes and even bigger key to protecting the environment.
Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t recycle regularly — and you might even be one of them. Not recycling leads to more waste in landfills, which negatively impacts the environment and takes up more of our unused land. Learn more about the environmental impact of not recycling and why you should do your part to protect the environment.
The Landfill Problem
The landfill problem is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to not recycling. As people continue to throw away recyclable household items, landfills across the country are filling up.
When one landfill is full, the only solution is to start dumping in another landfill. As a result, there are more than 3,000 active landfills in the US and an additional 10,000+ closed landfills.
Some of the stuff we dump in landfills degrades over time, so it’s not a huge problem. Unfortunately, materials like plastic aren’t biodegradable. Because of this, some of the garbage we’re putting in landfills stays there for hundreds if not thousands of years.
As the garbage in landfills decays, it releases greenhouse gases that damage the environment. Contaminants from landfills can also affect nearby groundwater and soil quality. This problem will continue to compound as the number of active and closed landfills increases.
The more you recycle, the less garbage you’re putting in landfills.
Natural Resources
There was a time when the planet was filled with natural resources because we hadn’t learned how to tap into them yet. Our smaller population also meant we could use these natural resources freely without worrying about them drying up completely.
As we’ve learned how to extract natural resources and use them for everything from smartphones to cars, the demand for those natural resources has grown and the supply has declined. This problem is compounded by the fact that the world’s population has more than doubled since 1974.
The high demand for natural resources has made recycling more important than ever. Instead of throwing away your old TV or computer, you can take it to an e-waste recycling center where some of the precious metals can be reclaimed. These precious metals can be used to make more electronic devices, which can eventually be recycled and reused again.
From precious metals to crude oil and even water, responsible use and reuse of natural resources is crucial.
Energy Use
You might not realize it, but recycling helps significantly reduce the amount of energy it takes to produce goods. Large-scale production requires a lot of energy — especially when you’re converting raw materials to a finished product.
When manufacturers can use recycled materials to create new products, it actually uses less energy than making those products from raw materials. Not only are you conserving the natural resources we rely on, but you’re also conserving energy by recycling.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling one ton of paper could:
- Save 7,000 gallons of water
- Save 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,205 pounds
- Conserve enough energy to power a home for six months
Emissions
Because recycling helps reduce the amount of energy used in production, it also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Burning fossil fuels to generate energy increases emissions, and that’s a necessary part of the production process. With recycled materials, production requires less energy so there are fewer emissions.
Emissions aren’t just a problem during the production stage. Extracting or mining raw materials uses a lot of energy and results in significant emissions, but we don’t have to extract or mine those materials when we can reuse recycled materials.
As the population continues to grow and the demand for products increases, reducing emissions through recycling should be a top priority.
Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about recycling, but it’s one of the biggest concerns. Everything we do that affects the environment — from the emissions we produce to the garbage we put in landfills — affects the delicate ecosystems across the country. As a result, ecosystems everywhere are changing and adapting to environmental stress.
A lack of biodiversity is a major concern because biodiversity plays a key role in nature. A diverse selection of plants, insects, bacteria, and wildlife helps create a balanced ecosystem that supports all forms of life. When we cause damage to these delicate ecosystems, we’re affecting the lives of everything that lives within them.
According to data from the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), biodiversity is a problem we’re already facing globally.
Negative Impacts on Wildlife
The wildlife around us plays a key role in our everyday lives. From birds and squirrels that act as nature’s gardeners to wild animals that we rely on as sources of food, everything plays an important role. As a lack of recycling leads to a decrease in biodiversity, we’re also seeing negative impacts on wildlife.
Ecosystems are delicate, with various organisms relying on each other for survival. Many smaller animals eat bugs or plants before serving as a food source for larger carnivorous animals. When our environmental impact wipes out certain types of insects or plants in an area, it can have devastating effects on the wildlife that relies on these lifeforms.
Not recycling has other negative impacts on wildlife too. Cats, raccoons, and other small animals can get their heads stuck inside metal cans. Fish and turtles can get trapped in the plastic ties that hold six packs together. If you’re not recycling, you’re putting wildlife at risk.
Human Health Risks
While our lack of recycling has a serious impact on the environment and the plants and animals it sustains, not recycling can also pose a risk to human health. For starters, the trash in landfills can release pollution and emissions. When we breathe in pollutants in the air, it can lead to coughing and other respiratory issues.
The trash filling up landfills can also affect the groundwater and soil quality. Soil does an excellent job of absorbing anything it comes into contact with, so throwing away electronics or dangerous chemicals can pollute the surrounding area.
The Big Picture
At the end of the day, not recycling has a long list of negative impacts on the environment — including humans and wildlife. As the population continues to grow and natural resources become more scarce, it’s becoming even more important to recycle.
Recycling programs and initiatives have made recycling more accessible for many people. At Corridor Recycling, we offer no-fee recycling for everything from plastic and paper to electronics and appliances. You can even get paid for recycling some materials.
If you haven’t started recycling, now is the time to start. You can check out our list of recyclable materials to learn more.
Reduce Your Environmental Footprint Through Recycling
Recycling is one of the easiest ways to reduce your impact on the environment. Separating your recycling only takes a minute, and you can even get paid for some materials.
At Corridor Recycling, we make recycling easy. We accept all recyclable materials, and you can get paid for scrap metal. We even offer collection and recycling solutions for businesses. If you want to do your part to protect the environment, contact us or visit our Long Beach recycling center today.