I received a request, via Bill Sheehan of Grassroots Recycling Network, from
a writer doing a piece on the environment for Earth Day for a magazine
widely distributed to teenagers in high schools across the United States.
She is asking for help in explaining the state of recycling and in
motivating kids to get involved.
HERE ARE MY 2 CENTS WORTH ON RECYCLING ADVICE FOR TEENAGERS. I HOPE I
HAVEN'T MADE ANY MISTAKES IN MY MULTIPLICATION AND DIVIDING. I AM ASKING
LINDA GAINES OF THE ARGONNE INSTITUTE TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY ALUMINUM ENERGY
USAGE FIGURES. ANYWAY, HERE GOES.......
As we approach the 21st century I would have to say that recycling is in a
state of decline. We are producing and consuming MORE, recycling LESS and
wasting MORE of many materials than we did last year in the US. We are,
sadly, going backwards.
My advice to teens (and anyone younger or older than a teenager) is this: a
product or package made of recyclable materials is no different than a
non-recyclable package or product UNLESS IT IS RECYCLED.
>1. Why is it important to recycle? What problems have been caused by people
>not recycling?
Our earth's resources are finite. When you DO NOT RECYCLE, you WASTE energy
and material resources, and you take up space in the ground for the product
or package. The squandering our earth's natural resources can best be seen
in the production of aluminum. Aluminum cans account for nearly three
quarters of the beer and soft drink containers sold in the US each year.
One quick example of wasted energy associated with this package that nearly
every teenager comes in contact with nearly every day -- the aluminum can.
Americans buy 365 per capita every year. Over the past 20 years Americans
have burned or buried 11 million tons of aluminum beverage cans worth over
$12 BILLION on today's market. It takes 194 million BTU's to make a ton of
aluminum cans from raw materials and only 45 million BTU's to make a ton of
aluminum cans from used aluminum cans. The 11 million tons of aluminum
beverage cans we trashed between 1999 and 1999 represents
1,639,000,000,000,000 BTU's wasted. (I can't even tell you HOW MANY THAT
IS.....WHAT COMES AFTER TRILLIONS?) That's 82 trillion BTU's every year for
the last 20 years.
Unfortunately the WASTING OF RESOURCES that results by NOT RECYCLING
aluminum cans is only a small part of the environmental distruction caused
by making new cans from raw materials. The process of obtaining a finished
aluminum can from the raw ore known as bauxite is one that involves enormous
environmental impact. For example, for every ton of alumina obtained, a ton
or more of caustic sludge is produced forming toxic red mud lakes which can
contaminate groundwater. Bauxite is mined in Jamaica, Canada, Russia,
Australia and several other countries.
If the product or package has any level of toxicity, you endanger
groundwater and/or air, depending upon whether it is buried in a landfill or
burned in an incinerator.
>2. What percentage of recyclable materials are actually recycled? What
>will happen if we continue at that rate?
1997 1996
Glass bottles & jars 31% 33%
Plastic PET soda bottles 36% 39%
All types of plastic bottles 20% 21%
Although aluminum can recycling was higher in 1997 than 1996, it was lower
in 1997 than it was in 1992 and only slightly higher than it was in 1994.
>3. How can you tell if something can be recycled? Usually chasing arrows
means it can be recycled. The trick is finding a place to take it so that
it WILL GET RECYCLED. Products and packaging are only recycled if there is
a market for the materials.
>
>4. What other environmental issues are grassrroots activists concerned about?
>Why?
>
>5. How can teens become more educated "green" consumers? Common sense
helps a lot. Think CONSERVATION. In other words, CONSERVE instead of
WASTING. THINK "ZERO WASTE". If you can't get to ZERO WASTE, then
get DARNED CLOSE. The fortune in my fortune cookie last night read, "We will
appreciate our water when the last drop is gone." Don't waste water.
Compost your food wastes. Recycle whatever you can whenever you can.
>
>6. Can teens write to companies or legislators stating their opinions?
>Specifically, where should they write? YES, but don't stop there. Write
letters to the editor of newspapers and magazines. If a letter is published
it gets information in the hands of many other people. And for goodness
sake write and or call consumer product companies. Tell them you want to
buy products and packaging that is not only RECYCL -- ABLE but is also MADE
FROM RECYCLED PRODUCTS. Tell them you want products that are made with
non-toxic materials, that use LESS energy not MORE. Tell them you will stop
buying their product if they don't. Today's teenagers are tomorrow's moms,
dads, car and computer buyers, soda and beer drinkers, doctors, janitors,
teachers lawyers, consumers, consumers, consumers. Product manufacturers
WILL LISTEN TO THEM LIKE THEY WON'T LISTEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THEY ARE A
POWERFUL CONSTITUENCY. THEY SHOULD USE THAT POWER. AND THEIR POWER IS IN
THEIR POCKETBOOK. PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS WILL MAKE WHAT TEENAGERS WANT TO BUY.
>
>7. How can teens start a recycling center? Find markets for the materials
first.
HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!
Pat Franklin