Eco-Logical Moment: Recycling Does Matter!

Recycling DOES matter!

At a recent student club fundraiser, club members sponsored a game that raised awareness about recycling. When a student who was passing by was asked if she wanted to play, she replied “No, recycling doesn’t make a difference anyway.” [Gulp!] I must admit the comment got under my skin a little bit and I found myself thinking about it for the rest of the day (and a few times in the days after).

Do our students and members of our community feel the same as that student? Are there really people out there that think recycling doesn’t make a difference, that it doesn’t matter? After some pondering, I’ve come to the conclusion that even in this day and age of being bombarded with marketing and campaign ads focused on recycling efforts, there are still those out there that just don’t buy it.  So, although I may be preaching to the choir, so to speak, I thought I’d offer 10 plain and simple reasons why recycling DOES MATTER, just in case you happen to bump into one of these “non-believers.” Also, here's a cool info graphic on recycling: [file 1]

• Recycling is the easiest thing we all can do 365 days a year to save energy, conserve natural resources and create green jobs.
• Recyclables are industry-ready which reduces the need to consume natural resources.
• Considerably less energy is required to manufacture goods using recycled materials than is required to produce new products from raw materials, which require extraction, refinement, and transportation.
• Recycling helps conserve raw materials.
• Recycling reduces or eliminates the need to mine and drill for new materials thus reducing wildlife habitat damage. Using less saves habitat and our natural systems.
• Recycling saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which in part, are responsible for climate change.
• Recycling reduces the amount of waste filling landfill sites.
• Recycling creates green jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the U.S.
• Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.
• Recycling makes you feel good. You are acting responsibly and helping to make the world a better place for all of us and for future generations.