| The world has advanced far beyond what our | | | | can save energy. Glass is first segregated into |
| ancestors have ever dreamed of. Countless | | | | types and colors. The pieces are then grounded, |
| inventions and technologies have made our lives | | | | melted, and dried into new glass sheets. It is |
| easier against living in an increasingly complex | | | | important to note that only glass bottles and jars |
| global culture. | | | | are usually recyclable. Glass from window panes |
| But there is a payoff . . . a very serious payoff. | | | | and light bulbs are too expensive and difficult to |
| Humankind is enjoying development at the | | | | recycle. |
| expense of the environment. For every | | | | 3. Aluminum |
| advancement we made, we have dirtied, | | | | After crushing empty aluminum cans with |
| corrupted, abused, and destroyed our | | | | aluminum can crushers, they are heated, cut, |
| environment. And it gets worse as the | | | | melted, filtered, and then poured into molds. After |
| consequences of our folly makes nature fight | | | | the aluminum dries, the sheets are then shipped |
| back. | | | | to consumers to cut and assemble into new cans. |
| But it is not too late. As residents of this world, | | | | Recycling aluminum cans lessens pollution that is a |
| can do something to lessen or even reverse this | | | | result of mining and refining bauxite, the material |
| destructive trend; it is our responsibility. The | | | | that composes aluminum. |
| easiest way is to recycle. Recycling is the | | | | 4. Plastics |
| reprocessing of old, used, and ready-to-throw | | | | Plastics are so aplenty (mostly due to the ease |
| materials into new products. Recycling positively | | | | and the cheap price of manufacturing the |
| contributes to nature; it saves space in landfills, | | | | material) that they actually cause environmental |
| reduces energy usage, decreases greenhouse | | | | problems due to their nonbiodegradable property. |
| emissions, and lessens air and water pollution. | | | | That is why many local governments encourage |
| If you look around you will see that most of the | | | | recycling it. |
| materials are actually recyclable. Here are some | | | | The recycling process of plastic is similar to that |
| of the most common ones. | | | | of glass and aluminum. |
| 1. Paper | | | | 5. Steel |
| Paper is probably one of the most common | | | | The steel that the United States use is 25 |
| things because it is one of the most numerous. In | | | | percent recycled as mandated by law. There are |
| fact, 20 percent of all garbage in the house and in | | | | a lot of steel around--from old cars to building |
| the office is in the form of paper. Paper is also | | | | scraps. Steel is also easy to recycle and follows a |
| one of the most common recyclable item | | | | similar recycling process as with the other |
| because it is easy and cheap to recycle. | | | | materials mentioned above. |
| By recycling paper, such as old newspapers, office | | | | 6. Electronic goods |
| forms, and gift wrappers, we can save a lot of | | | | Recycled electronic goods are rare because they |
| trees, thus saving the forest. | | | | cost a lot to recycle. Nevertheless, there are |
| 2. Glass | | | | companies that specialize in recycling and reselling |
| Just like paper, recycling glass can cut costs and | | | | electronic goods. |