General Recycling

What is Recycling?

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. Today, we will be talking about the usual recycling such as plastic, paper, cans and bottles.

When did people start recycling general items?

The first recorded use of recycled paper was in 9th century Japan . Ancient Japanese people began recycling paper almost as soon as they learned how to produce it and recycling became part of paper production and consumption.

Japanese culture generally treats recycled paper as being more precious than new and the recycled paper was often used in paintings and poetry. In the 12 century, a case was recorded of an emperor’s wife: after the emperor died, she recycled all the poems and letters she received from him and wrote a sutra on the recycled paper to wish peace upon his soul.

US Recycling Start

Finally, in 1690, recycling reaches the New World. The Rittenhouse Mill in Philadelphia opens and begins recycling linen and cotton rags. The paper produced from these materials was sold to printers for use in Bibles and newspapers.

World War II

World War II sees massive, universal collection campaigns for tin, rubber, steel, paper and more. More than 400,000 volunteer in the effort and tens of thousands of tons of material are recycled in order to save money for the war efforts. This was a national campaign. Posters and newsreels detailing the materials needed (and why) are abounding. All Americans were on board, and most were excited to help aid the troops by conserving and recycling.

1960s

The first curbside collections of yard waste, metals, and paper start popping up around the county. Separate waste streams collected at the curb become common place.

1970s

• Greater emphasis on green movements through government backed initiatives generates public awareness of conservation efforts.

• Concept of the flower child emerges. Earth Day is celebrated for the first time on April 22, 1970.

• The ‘chasing arrows’ recycling symbol is created by a Southern California architecture student who was trying to win a contest. He has been quoted to say that he never could have imagined the logo he designed would be so widely recognized.

• The first curbside-recycling bin “The Tree Saver” is used in Missouri for the collection of paper in 1974.

• In 1976, Massachusetts secures the first ever EPA recycling grants. With the grant money, they implement weekly multi-material curbside collection programs in two cities and use the first ever residential recycling truck. It costs $20,000.

• By the end of the decade approximately 220 curbside collection programs are under way in the US, about which 60 are multi-material collection.

1980s

• In 1987, The Mobro 4000 (nicknamed “The Garbage Barge”) spends months on the ocean, searching for a location to dispose of its garbage cargo. This saga was widely covered in the media and has been credited with awakening Americans in regard to solid waste and the importance of recycling.

• In that same year, New Jersey enacts the nation’s first universal mandatory recycling law, which requires all residents to separate recyclables from their trash.

• By 1985 America is at 10% nationwide recycling participation.

1990s

• The first ever-statewide ban on landfilling recyclable materials goes into effect, in Wisconsin in 1993. The ban initially prohibits yard wastes in landfills. Later, in 1995, other items (such as tires, aluminum containers, corrugated paper, foam polystyrene, plastic containers and newspapers) are banned as well.

• By 1995 America is at 20% nationwide recycling participation; double what it had been 10 years ago in 1985 and only 3 years later, in 1998, it tops 30%.

2000-Today

• In the early 2000s, organic waste collection at the curb begins on the West Coast (San Francisco).

• Currently, goal setting for ambitious West Coast cities reaches up to 80% recycling participation in some areas.

• In 2011, lawmakers in California adopt a goal to get the state’s recycling rate to 75% by 2020.

• In 2012, McDonalds finally replace their Styrofoam cups with paper ones.

• In 2011, the state of California had set the goal for 75% by 2020. Only one year later, in 2012, San Francisco announces it has achieved an 80% diversion rate for it’s waste….This puts San Francisco 8 years ahead of schedule on that goal, and with 5% MORE waste diverted!

How do we recycle?

1. First, obey the 5Rs which are reduce,reuse,recycle,repair,refuse.

2. Find out if your item can be recycled in your local area. Since many of the things we believe can be recycled are not.

3. Ensure you put your recyclables into the right bin.

What are the benefits to recycling

Preserve the world’s natural resources

• The Earth’s natural resources are finite.

• Recycling preserves valuable natural resources for the good and longevity of the planet.

• It also ensures we can continue to live the way we are accustomed to.

Protect the world’s wildlife

• The more we recycle, the less we need to disrupt and damage the natural world, including habitats.

• If fewer forests are being cut down and fewer rivers are being diverted, less wild animals are being harmed or displaced in the process.

Protect the world’s people

• In the search for new materials, it is often the poorest and most vulnerable people who end up being displaced from their homes.

• Communities living around forests or river systems can find themselves evicted in the search for cheap timber.

Keep plastic out of the oceans

• If plastic waste isn’t safely recycled, it can be blown or washed into rivers and oceans, where it can harm wildlife and pollute coastlines and waterways.

• Recycling plastic safeguards our health and major food sources, and protects wildlife in their natural environment.

Create new jobs

• Recycling has created a wealth of new jobs, in the recycling industry itself and in manufacturing.

• Some stores contain entire lines of merchandise made from recycled goods, showcasing the benefits of recycling at a more local level.

Examples in Malaysia and other countries

In Malaysia,Data from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) collected from January to November throughout 2018 puts the national recycling rate at 0.06%, or about 1,800 tonnes of the 3 million tonnes of waste collected in the period. Majority of the waste were sent to landfills.

Referring the photo above, is a recycling centre in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

In 2015, household, industrial, commercial and institutional waste generation in the country was at 38,563 tonne per day of which 88.8% went to landfills.

In 2005, Malaysia produced about 7.34 million tonnes of solid wastes, of which 30% are possibly recyclable but only 3-5% were actually processed.

Household recycling rate in Malaysia is estimated to be at 9.7% in a nationwide survey in 2011.

The same report indicated that Kuantan had the highest household recycling rate (18.4%) while Sabah rest at the lowest with 4.5%. Kuala Lumpur, the nation's capital with an estimated population of 1.66 million people in 2009, produced household waste of around 0.8 to 1.3 kg per day, that amount together with the industrial waste of the city led to the generation of an average 3,500 tonnes of waste per day.

In the Eleventh Malaysia Plan 2016- 2020, the stated solid waste management goals was to achieve a rate of 40% waste diversion from landfill and 22% recycling rate by 2020.

In other countries, European countries are leading the way — and were the first to introduce policy incentives to promote the separation of waste and recycling, as well as measures to discourage single-use products like plastic bags and straws. In this regard, the EU has set the objective of recycling 50 percent of household waste in 2020, and 65 percent in 2030.

These are some of the countries that have successfully managed to get their citizens and governments to cooperate to attain high levels of recycling, and some examples of the successful policies.

The Netherlands: reutilization and sustainability

The Netherlands are another example of sustainability, as they successfully apply sustainability models to mobility, construction and consumption. And a clear example of recycling materials in this country is the 2018 construction of two sections of a bike path made entirely of recycled plastic in the cities of Zwolle and Giethoorn. The use of plastic to build roads has also been done in other places around the world, but this was the first time they were made entirely of plastic.

In addition to a clear commitment to reuse all types of materials, the Netherlands also has a strong commitment to renewable energy and investment in developing initiatives that lead the country to reach a circular, sustainable economy.

Canada: tires and cigarette butts

The North American country does not have one of the highest recycling rates in the world, but it does have a deeply rooted circular economy culture that leads Canadians to sell, give or donate products they are no longer using instead of discarding them. They are also experts in recycling tires, as they use the material to mix with asphalt and build roads or playground surfacing.

Wales: a success story

In just 20 years, the country has gone from recycling five percent of household waste to 64 percent. These figures are the result of an ambitious package of measures launched by the government, which aims to promote the circular economy among its citizens. The goal is to not have any waste in dumps or incinerators by 2050.

Some of the measures include the reduction of single-use products, the requirement to separate household waste and the involvement of industrial manufacturers through a responsibility scheme. The country has also proposed developing recycling plants capable of processing products that are not normally recyclable, such as mattresses and diapers.

Personal Note

If we want to save our countries from landfills and polluted oceans, we have to take action now. Otherwise, we would be too late to reverse the effects that we as humans have created.