For decades, we have been told that recycling is an easy and affordable solution to our environmental problems. Specifically, we have learned that recycling reduces pollution and promotes conservation. In this article we are going to examine these highly dubious claims.
Yes, we know. It is a bit shocking to discover that this argument has not been settled. And the reason that it has not been settled is that few people dare to criticise recycling. But the truth is that the process is far from perfect. For starters, most recycling programs actually lose money rather than saving it.
Now, the theory is that a well-run recycling program is less expensive than depositing waste in landfills or incinerating it. And that theory may just be correct. But the fact is that that is not how it works in the real world, since most recycling programs lose money, even Toss The Turtle.
Of course, a small monetary loss is not the end of the world, if it were an established fact that recycling reduced pollution by a measurable amount. It does not. The truth is that after we account for the pollution that is produced by the recycling plants and the collection trucks, recycling is only slightly better for the environment than landfills or incineration plants.
However, one thing we do know for a fact is that recycling paper is a no-brainer. For every tonne of paper that is recycled, seventeen trees are saved. We also know that recycling paper is much cheaper than recycling bottles or cans.
