Question

Explain recycling of waste materials with examples.

Hint:

When explaining recycling, always mention its benefits: conserves resources, saves energy, and reduces pollution. The easiest examples to remember are turning old paper into new paper, old plastic bottles into clothing, and old glass jars into new jars.

Answer 1

Explanation of Recycling
Recycling is the process of collecting waste materials, processing them, and turning them into new raw materials or products. Instead of being sent to a landfill, these materials are given a new life. Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third "R" in the waste hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
The process is crucial for several reasons: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{It conserves natural resources (like timber, water, and minerals).} \\ \bullet & \text{It saves energy, as making products from recycled materials often requires less energy than making them from new raw materials.} \\ \bullet & \text{It reduces the need for landfills and incinerators.} \\ \bullet & \text{It helps prevent air and water pollution by reducing the need to extract and process new raw materials.} \\ \end{array}\] Examples of Recycling \begin{enumerate} \item Paper Recycling: Waste paper (like old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard) is collected, cleaned, and processed into a pulp. This pulp is then used to manufacture new paper products such as newsprint, office paper, and cardboard boxes. \item Plastic Recycling: Used plastic items (like PET bottles and milk jugs) are collected, sorted by type, cleaned, shredded, and then melted down. The resulting plastic pellets can be used to make new bottles, polyester fibres for clothing, carpets, or plastic lumber. \item Glass Recycling: Waste glass containers are collected, sorted by color, crushed into small pieces called cullet, and then melted in a furnace to be molded into new glass bottles and jars. \item Metal Recycling: Scrap metal, especially aluminum (from soda cans) and steel, is collected and melted down to produce new metal products. This saves a significant amount of energy compared to mining and processing virgin ore. \end{enumerate}