Getting into the habit of recycling is a challenge for many people, especially when they aren’t seeing the immediate rewards. But recycling does so much more than reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators; it also helps conserve non-renewable natural resources, saves energy, creates jobs, stimulates the development of greener technologies, prevents toxic chemicals from polluting waterways, and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global climate change.
The process of recycling involves three main steps: collection, processing, and remanufacturing into a new product. This can be done for a wide range of products and materials, including paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, and steel. In ideal implementations, recycled material is converted back into the same type of product (for example, recycled paper into new office paper or used polystyrene foam into new polystyrene foam). This is referred to as “remanufacturing” because it produces a similar product rather than a brand-new one.
However, recycling systems are still in need of improvements. The domestic market for certain recyclables has been limited by changing international policies, and more consistent measurement methodologies are needed to track system performance. Additionally, some communities have struggled to find effective strategies for increasing participation in their curbside recycling programs, and have halted programs altogether due to low rates of participation and lack of profitability.