Have you seen people collecting plastic bottles, metal cans, or even paper and wondered why they do so and where they take these recyclables? After collection, recyclable waste is regenerated by recyclers to add value and produce new products. That is recycling! Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials, that would otherwise be thrown away, and remanufacturing them into new products.
For example, according to the National Solid Waste Management Strategy by the National Environment Management Authority of Kenya (NEMA), it is estimated that an average of 2,400 tons of waste is generated in Nairobi on a daily basis, and only 45% of it is recovered and taken to recycling facilities.
Recycling is important because waste has a significant negative effect on public health, the environment and economic development. Greenhouse gases and other toxic substances of non-point and point origins are released under poorly managed or underdeveloped waste management systems. Recycling therefore contributes to the reduction of pollution produced by this waste.
Recycling plays a major role in the conservation and preservation of nature in both direct and indirect ways. This narrows down to different impacts, as outlined below:
1. Environmental Impact:
- Creating a clean environment. An environment full of waste is not conducive for humans or any living things, plants included. Recycling waste ensures that the environment is cleaner by reducing some of the waste that can be molded into useful products instead of filling our landfills. People living in a clean environment are free from diseases.
- Conservation of natural resources. Recycling helps preserve some of the world’s scarce resources. For example, when we recycle paper, we save trees and forests that would otherwise have been cut down for the production of the paper.
- Saving energy. The production of products from recycled materials requires less energy than producing goods from new raw materials, which plays a critical role in air and water pollution prevention and the conservation of natural resources.
- Protecting ecosystems and wildlife. Recycling makes this possible by keeping environments stable and free of pollution produced by the careless disposal of recyclables. Polythene bags endanger aquatic animals and even people who reside in these areas. Furthermore, improper garbage disposal methods, such as burning waste, result in the release of harmful gases that contribute to air pollution.
2. Economic Impact:
- Jobs creation. Many green jobs have been created in our country, Kenya, as a result of waste recycling. The green jobs include waste collection, sorting, and transportation of recyclables to companies for regeneration. There has been an increase in the number of collectors all over the country who have noticed and decided to act on opportunities around waste management, and it has improved their living standards.
- Saves money. Recycling waste is significantly less expensive than waste disposal, as disposal may have other long-term effects on the environment. We can save and generate more money if we recycle more. Some producers have incentives that encourage consumers to embrace the practice. The most common motivation for recycling is the purchase of recyclables, either by the product’s manufacturer or any other recyclers who deal with similar products.
- Revenue generation. Recycling generates revenue for local governments. This is done through fees charged for waste disposal and the licensing of aggregators who buy waste from collectors.
3. Social Impact:
- Improves people’s living standards. Recycling helps achieve this by creating green jobs, which are a source of good and legally acquired money.
- Promotes interaction. Recycling brings communities and individuals together and encourages civic engagement. It also promotes a sense of responsibility to communities.
- Reduces crime rates. Recycling initiatives help reduce crime rates in communities by providing employment opportunities and reducing poverty levels. When people have jobs, they are less likely to engage in criminal activities, as they already have a source of income.
- Promotes social equality. Recycling promotes social equality by creating jobs for people from different backgrounds, including those with limited educational qualifications. Recycling initiatives are often inclusive and can provide opportunities for people with disabilities or other challenges to contribute to their communities.
As we have seen, recycling is not just a trend; it’s an important way to conserve natural resources, promote good health in communities, save energy, create green jobs, make money, and protect the environment. By transforming used goods into new value, we decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills and prevent hazardous chemicals and gases from being released into the environment. Let’s all do our part in making the world a cleaner and healthier place to live by recycling more!