In my eyes, I don't see recycling as a world cure or anything. But for your report I can give a few ways people THINK recycling works.
It creates less waste in landfills, but if there isn't recycling, they fill up quick and have to expand to other land that could be used for something better such as a home, church, playground, etc... But then again, who wants to live or play near a landfill?
I always wondered how much of our recycle bin is actually used as recycled materials.
Hi Kacie,
Thanks for your question on the benefits of recycling.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a great section on "Recycling Basics." This webpage gives information on the benefits of recycling, steps to recycling, and what happens to the stuff we throw away. It also includes an info graphic on the right-hand side of the page with statistical information that may be useful to you.
www2.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics
EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress.
How Stuff Works also provides an article entitled "How Recycling Works" that includes information on recycling benefits, guidelines, and recycling centers, as well as criticisms to recycling.
science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/recycl
How Stuff Works is an owned division of Discovery Communications, and focuses on credible, unbiased, and easy-to-understand explanations of how the world actually works.
I found both these sites by performing a keyword search with the terms <benefits of recycling> on Google.
I hope this answers your question.
Laura, MLIS student, Drexel University
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