argumentative essay on recycling should be made compulsory

Should Recycling Be Mandatory? Arguments For and Against

The waste we generate is growing at an alarming rate, leading to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and contamination. Our trash affects whole ecosystems, and although we don’t see it, it affects our lives, too. 

Environmental organizations have hailed recycling as the best action a person can take to help with these issues, but should recycling be mandatory?

Let’s explore the pros and cons to find out.

Why Should Recycling Be Mandatory?

Recycling has numerous benefits for our lives and the environment, but does that mean it should be mandatory? 

Here are a few benefits of recycling and strong arguments why we should all do it:

Reducing Landfills

Landfills are the oldest form of garbage disposal we know, but they’re not a good solution to our growing trash problem for the following reasons:

• Landfills have capacity limits . Once we reach that limit, we have to create a new landfill. That means destroying natural habitats for the sole purpose of storing our trash. 
• Landfills release methane gas, which is among the main climate change contributors . They also produce a number of other toxic compounds and can create smog.
• Landfills generate leachate when it rains. This is a liquid that leads to further contamination of the surface and groundwater. It creates zones where animals cannot survive due to the lack of oxygen.

These are 3 major reasons why we need to reduce the number of landfills. If we make recycling mandatory, we’ll send a lot less waste to landfills, which will slow down the need for building more of these toxic places.

One example of this power of recycling comes from Stanford. By implementing composting and recycling, the university reduced its trash sent to landfills by 35% . 

Preserving Resources

The planet’s natural resources aren’t finite, and our growing demand depletes them faster than ever with practices like deforestation and mining. Plus, extracting raw materials is expensive and requires energy and water.

Using recycled materials to make new products conserves our natural resources. This is another strong reason why recycling should be mandatory.

Saving Energy

Did you know that we can preserve 90% of the energy for new aluminum products by recycling the material? What’s more, recycling glass requires 45% less energy than making it. 

Saving energy through eco-friendly practices is another way to preserve natural resources and reduce air and water pollution. Plus, it reduces expenses. The benefits of recycling are interconnected, and they can only help us live healthier, happier lives.

Raising Awareness

The more people recycle, the more they’ll be aware of environmental issues, and the more solutions they’ll seek. 

That’s how it all started for me. The decision to recycle has paved the way for many of my eco-friendly habits , and it has turned me into a more conscious consumer . As I started recycling, I saw proof of how much plastic I’m generating, which in itself was among the strongest arguments for recycling I could find. 

Reading alarming statistics is all well and good, but when you see your own impact , you become acutely aware of your own contributions to unsustainable practices. And that’s how change starts.

Educating Next Generations

If recycling is mandatory, children will learn about its benefits from a very young age. As a consequence, they’ll be more involved in the process , and we can raise a generation that truly cares about global issues like climate change.

We all want what’s best for our children. Helping them build sustainable habits will turn them into more responsible and mindful adults that demand better management of our planet’s resources.

Establishing a Sense of Community

There is power in numbers. If you persuade people to recycle, you can create a community of like-minded individuals where you exchange more ideas and organize initiatives to make your neighborhood a better place .

Recycling can bring people together. It’s a practice that helps us feel united behind a greater purpose. And when that happens, people bring back their belief in the good of humanity. They seek ways to help and learn the importance of sharing, communication, and action.

Should People Be Fined for Not Recycling?

Just like we can’t see the immediate harmful impacts of smoking, we can’t see the immediate impacts of refusing to recycle. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. 

Not recycling means wasting natural resources and contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. But is that a good enough reason to be fined?

To answer that question, we need to ask another — “What do we want people to do?”. We want them to recycle, in other words, to change their behavior. Psychology has already shown the best approach to this issue. Studies show that positive reinforcement has far more lasting effects than negative reinforcement. Hence, it would be better to offer people some incentive to recycle than fining them for not doing so.

Still, some countries like Germany have taken the opposite approach, and you will be fined for not recycling there. The fines range from 10 to 1,500 euros. And as you can guess, people aren’t happy about it.

Reasons Why Recycling Should Not Be Mandatory

There are two big reasons why domestic recycling shouldn’t be mandatory. I urge you to read the second one in detail. It’s crucial.

1. Industries generate much more waste than consumers.

Who’s more likely to produce tons of trash — you or a whole factory?

According to Statista, Americans produce almost 2,000 pounds of domestic waste per year. Meanwhile, EPA reveals that the US also generates 7.6 billion tons of industrial waste per year . The difference is astounding. And while your recycling still has an impact, it’ll be far better for the environment to make recycling mandatory in all industries.

2. We cannot force people into changing their habits.

Every one of us has struggled with implementing new habits into our lives. And those were habits we wanted to implement. Now, imagine the government trying to enforce on you a habit you have zero interest in. It won’t work. 

But you know what works? 

Changing the environment of people . If everyone around you recycled, you’d be more likely to do the same. If a government ingrains recycling into the national consciousness, we won’t have to ask “Should recycling be mandatory?”. We’ll just do it.

Recycling shouldn’t be mandatory. It should be an activity we all engage in because we understand its impact and importance.

What Would Happen if Everyone Recycled?

We’ll live in a much cleaner world.

We’ll be more united and aware of our impact on the planet.

We’ll reduce the number of landfills or abolish the concept altogether.

We’ll move towards a circular economy.

We’ll know the difference between all the eco terms and phrases and won’t let greenwashing be the norm.

We’ll create new products from recycled materials.

We’ll protect animals and their habitats.

We’ll consume less.

And we’ll never ask again whether recycling should be required or not.

Before You Leave

Ask your friends and family — “Should recycling be mandatory?”. It’s a great topic for discussion. You’ve read everything above, so you’ll have plenty of interesting arguments to offer. 

And if you’ve found value in my words, please share this article with others. Let’s spread the information and raise awareness. Perhaps together we can even persuade someone to start recycling.

Why should recycling be mandated?

Recycling should be mandated because that would help us to preserve resources , reduce the growing number of landfills, save energy, raise awareness, and establish a sense of community. It’s a small habit we can all implement to reduce pollution and encourage eco-friendly living.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory recycling?

The main advantage of mandatory recycling is that more people will do it . That would lead to a cleaner world where we’ll work together to protect natural resources, animals, and each other. 

The main disadvantage of mandatory recycling is that it’s focused on consumers rather than on industries. Industries produce a significantly larger amount of trash. Also, it’s difficult to force people into changing their habits. 

Should recycling be mandatory or voluntary?

Recycling should be voluntary , but governments should do their best to inform the people of its benefits and to provide the necessary facilities for everyone who wants to recycle. If we make recycling easy and accessible, more people will do it.

Does recycling really make a difference?

Yes, it’s the easiest action you can take to help with climate change and pollution. If you’re still unsure whether it would make a difference, read the article above to see the bigger picture and learn more about the benefits of recycling.

What will happen if we don’t recycle?

We’ll continue generating more and more trash, which will require new landfills. That means wasting natural resources and destroying animal habitats to make room for our waste. Landfills produce toxic greenhouse gases that would further exacerbate the effects of climate change on our planet.

• ResearchGate

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Recycling — The Debate Over Mandatory Recycling

The Debate Over Mandatory Recycling

• Categories: Conservation Recycling Resource Management

About this sample

Words: 750 |

Published: Aug 31, 2023

Words: 750 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Environmental benefits of recycling, resource conservation and raw material reduction, economic considerations, waste reduction and landfill management, challenges and opposition to mandatory recycling, behavioral change and public education, balancing regulation and individual choice, case studies and success stories, conclusion: weighing the pros and cons of mandatory recycling.

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Essay on Recycling Should Be Mandatory

Students are often asked to write an essay on Recycling Should Be Mandatory in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Recycling Should Be Mandatory

Why is recycling important.

Recycling is important because it helps protect the environment. When we recycle, we take items that would otherwise be thrown away and turn them into new products. This reduces the amount of waste that goes into our landfills and helps save natural resources like trees, water, and minerals.

What Happens if We Don’t Recycle?

If we don’t recycle, our landfills will fill up faster. This can lead to pollution and other environmental problems. For example, when garbage rots, it can create harmful gases that contribute to climate change.

Benefits of Making Recycling Mandatory

Making recycling mandatory can help solve these problems. If everyone has to recycle, we can reduce waste and save resources. Plus, it can create jobs and help our economy.

How Can We Make Recycling Mandatory?

To make recycling mandatory, we need laws that require it. These laws could include penalties for not recycling, or rewards for those who do recycle.

In conclusion, recycling is important for our environment and our future. Making it mandatory can help ensure that we all do our part to protect our planet.

250 Words Essay on Recycling Should Be Mandatory

Why recycling is important.

Recycling is a way to use items again. It helps us save our natural resources like trees and water. It also helps us keep our environment clean. This is why it should be a must for everyone.

The Problem with Waste

Every day, we throw away a lot of things. These things often end up in big piles called landfills. Landfills can hurt our environment. They can pollute our air and water. This is not good for us or for the animals and plants we share the world with.

How Recycling Helps

When we recycle, we give old things a new life. A paper can become a new paper. A plastic bottle can become a new bottle. This means we don’t need to make new things from scratch. We don’t need to cut down more trees or use more water. We also don’t make as much waste.

Making Recycling Mandatory

If we make recycling a must, we can help our environment a lot. We can save more trees and water. We can make less waste. We can keep our air and water clean. This is good for us and for our planet.

In conclusion, recycling is very important. It helps us take care of our planet. It helps us save our resources. This is why it should be a must for everyone. Let’s all do our part and recycle.

500 Words Essay on Recycling Should Be Mandatory

Introduction.

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new products. It is a great way to reduce waste, save resources, and protect our planet. This essay will explain why recycling should be mandatory for everyone.

Recycling is important for many reasons. First, it helps to reduce the amount of waste we produce. Every day, we throw away tons of trash. Much of this could be recycled. If we recycle, we can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or in the ocean.

Second, recycling saves resources. When we recycle, we use less new materials. This means we can save our natural resources, like trees and minerals, for future generations.

Third, recycling can help to reduce pollution. Making new products from raw materials can create a lot of pollution. But if we recycle, we can make new products without creating as much pollution.

Why Should Recycling Be Mandatory?

Recycling should be mandatory because it is good for our planet. If everyone recycles, we can greatly reduce the amount of waste we produce. This would help to keep our landfills from overflowing and our oceans clean.

Making recycling mandatory would also help to save our natural resources. If we recycle, we won’t need to use as many new materials. This can help to preserve our forests, minerals, and other natural resources.

Finally, mandatory recycling can help to reduce pollution. By recycling, we can make new products without creating as much pollution. This can help to keep our air and water clean.

To make recycling mandatory, we need to create laws that require people to recycle. These laws could be at the local, state, or national level. They could require people to separate their trash into recyclables and non-recyclables. They could also require businesses to recycle their waste.

We also need to educate people about the importance of recycling. We can do this in schools, through public campaigns, and in the media. If people understand why recycling is important, they will be more likely to do it.

In conclusion, recycling is a simple and effective way to protect our planet. It helps to reduce waste, save resources, and reduce pollution. Making recycling mandatory can ensure that everyone does their part to help our planet. Therefore, we should all support laws that make recycling mandatory.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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10 Reasons Recycling Should Be Mandatory

by Romano | Sep 7, 2021 | Recycling | 0 comments

There’s a puzzling trend gaining popularity in current sustainability circles. Questions are being raised as to the true efficacy of recycling. These discussions usually revolve around issues concerning plastics: Only 9% of the world’s plastics have been successfully recycled, and it takes 400 years for plastics to break down.

Waste management is a complex multi-step process. There should be more emphasis placed on preventative measures before recycling is needed such as scaling back on consumption and reusing municipal waste. However, recycling is critical for managing the waste that is already in circulation. Keep reading to find out 10 reasons why recycling should be mandatory.

Why Is Recycling Becoming an Issue?

It seems recycling hasn’t been yielding desired outcomes in recent decades. With the 2021 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change declaring “code red for humanity,” there is an urgency to find the most efficient solutions to climate change. 

Many are doubtful about recycling’s capacity to significantly curb harmful environmental conditions for several reasons:

• Single-stream systems : waste is collected in one undifferentiated container
• Lack of consumer awareness
• Higher contamination rates    

Oftentimes, due to lack of consumer awareness, recyclables get mixed up with contaminating materials. In fact, in the U.S., it’s estimated that one-fourth of all recyclables have been polluted. 

Much of this contaminated heap is then exported to countries that don’t have the wherewithal to properly process the trash. Sorting and cleaning salvageable waste is often too costly so companies have resorted to dumping the vast majority of waste in landfills or incinerators.

Though pollution control is of utmost importance, recycling isn’t being sufficiently invested in at the governmental level. Also, there aren’t many economic incentives encouraging producers and manufacturers to devote their resources towards the recycling process. But what if there were stricter laws in place? 

Reasons Why Recycling Should Be Mandatory

Below are 10 reasons why recycling should be mandatory.

Too Many Landfills

Landfills: the eyesores of every modern consumerist culture. They require huge amounts of real estate. Destroying wildlife habitat, pits are dug out of the earth and, when full, they are buried. 

The underground trash seeps toxins, greenhouse gases like methane, and noxious leachates (liquid from rainwater that leaches out harmful chemicals when draining through wastes) into the surrounding soil. With over 2,000 open landfills in the U.S. today, implementing firm recycling policies could drastically reduce that number. 

Recycling Helps Protect Vulnerable Communities

Landfills pose a huge problem for surrounding communities, especially those that are under economic duress. Water and air pollution in proximity to landfills are too common. Households depend on clean well water but fear harmful substances leaking into their water supply. Burning trash that is so often contaminated compromises breathable air.  

Extractive industries like mining, quarrying, and logging threaten the cleanliness of local streams and deplete natural resources available to these communities. For example, as one of The Human Rights Watch articles describes, Bauxite mining in Guinea is putting a strain on the water resources of the native population. 

In addition to dust inundating homes and fields, “women, who are primarily responsible for fetching water, are forced to walk longer distances or wait for long periods to obtain water from alternative sources.”  Recycling reduces the need for more resources like bauxite and, if practiced over the long term, could eliminate the presence of these invasive companies. 

Energy Efficiency Is Critical in a Warming World

It is much more labor-intensive to manufacture and produce new products. Up to 30% less energy is used when companies take advantage of already refined and available recycled materials. Plus, it gives the environment a break. The more we can reintegrate into manufacturing, the less demand for raw materials.

To illustrate this point, take a look at this surprising statistic about aluminum can production in the United States. Less than half of the 100 billion cans sold each year are recycled. However, “with the amount of energy it takes to make one virgin aluminum can, 20 recycled cans can be manufactured.” 

Aluminum’s properties retain their original quality over time which makes it the perfect recycling material. Just think of all the space we could save from landfill use if recycling aluminum was required!

Recycling Creates a Spirit of Community

Working together to mitigate the effects of climate change will become more and more of a pressing concern as we enter a changing era. 

Recycling and other sustainable practices foster an atmosphere of communalism, creativity, shift awareness to individual responsibility, and emphasize the role all can play in caring for others and the environment. Healthier neighborhoods mean improved quality of life for everyone. 

Consider Germany. A heartening success story, the country has historically backed 3 main recycling initiatives: 

• The 1991 Packing Ordinance
• The 1996 Closed Substance and Waste Management Act
• The Green Dot

As opposed to the United States’ inefficient single-stream system, Germany has 6 color-coded bins for municipal waste disposal. Governmental support and community cooperation have been directly responsible for the nation’s impressive track record as the world recycling champion.

It Supports the Advancement of Green Technologies

If recycling were mandatory, more funds and subsidies could be allocated to the green technologies associated with its processes. There are so many cool and ingenious ideas out there! Do you remember the concerns about plastics mentioned earlier in this article? 

One company called Recycling Technologies based in the United Kingdom is exploring a possible solution. Their machine – the behemoth RT7000 – uses thermal cracking to reduce plastics to a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock. Check out their team’s write-up to learn more: https://www.bpf.co.uk/plastipedia/chemical-recycling-101.aspx

Exxon Mobil and a host of other oil companies have invested millions of dollars in what is termed CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage). Of the many efforts to reduce carbon emissions in circulation today, CCUS is rising in popularity. 

These name just a few of the incredible green-tech innovations attracting the attention of investors and the scientific community alike. 

Wildlife Biodiversity Is Under Threat

Climate change threatens the delicate balance of ecological systems like rivers where fish depend on conducive levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. Also, the EPA estimates that plastics kill over 100,000 sea creatures each year. 

Landfill usage, drilling operations, deforestation, and other resource extraction methods exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions while also destroying habitats. Again, large scale recycling efforts could significantly reduce the need for these exploitative practices.  

Groundwater Quality is Too Precious to Risk

Leachates from landfills are notoriously hard to manage. They are chock full of hazardous components such as:

• Toxic heavy metals
• High concentrations of ammonia

If even small amounts of these substances leaked into a nearby water source, it would put all organisms in the area at risk. 

What’s even more ominous is the possibility of these poisonous compounds making their way into the groundwater. Wells that draw supply from the groundwater source will become undrinkable and this directly impacts the communities that use them. 

It Lowers the Demand for Raw Materials

Repurposing used materials mitigates the crisis of overabundant solid waste. Recovered materials satisfy the demand for virgin materials and this means less drilling, mining, and deforestation. Paper, plastic, glass, and other resources that have already gone through manufacturing processes require much less energy to compact and reuse in new products. 

New Recycling Methods Mean More Well-Paying Jobs

There are companies that depend solely on the recycling process for revenue. That also includes buying used goods and reselling them. As opposed to the steep expenses of paying for landfill usage, recycling is three times as profitable. According to some studies, it creates up to 6 times as many jobs!

Recycling Works Towards a More Sustainable Future

As recycling practices are normalized, they will become second nature. This should put pressure on government leaders to enact policies that will ensure communities are responsible for their waste. 

Germany, Austria, and Wales are in the top 15 countries that have experienced success year after year since the establishment of their recycling mandates. They prove that more ecologically aware leadership goes a long way in setting the example. 

Even though modern-day recycling efforts are not without caveats, the philosophy behind the practice still does a lot to promote ecological awareness. Recycling is the first thing most people think of when they think about sustainability or how they’ll celebrate Earth Day. 

In parts of the world where recycling is mandatory, the national community is sensitized to the necessity of living more in harmony with the planet. Reducing waste generation and reusing materials is equally important in these places. 

It only makes sense to vouch for required recycling policies here in the United States too.

• https://www.rubicon.com/blog/statistics-trash-recycling/
• https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/10/04/what-do-we-get-out-it/human-rights-impact-bauxite-mining-guinea
• https://harmony1.com/recycling-saves-energy/
• https://earth911.com/business-policy/recycling-in-germany/
• https://www.iea.org/fuels-and-technologies/carbon-capture-utilisation-and-storage
• https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/74164

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