English Literature

Recycling involves the re-usage of materials to aid the preservation of the environment. It prevents wastage of materials, reduces both water and air pollution and ensures less fresh raw material consumption. Materials which can be recycled include metal, glass, textiles, paper, electronics and plastic (Russell, 2010). These materials when recycled would give similar but fresh products. The process of obtaining similar fresh products can be expensive in the short run. This has prompted alternative products to be made instead. For instance waste office paper is used to produce cardboard as opposed to making fresh office paper. Critics opposed to the idea of recycling cite high costs of collection and transportation. Nevertheless recyclable materials can be substituted in exchange of ordinary materials thus lower prices significantly in the long run. For example ordinary paper can be substituted with polymer which will help reduce the percentage of forests destruction. The people are also unwilling to purchase recycled materials due to old habits. In some cases it can be more expensive, and recyclable materials are not always accessible within region.

Sustainability Efforts in America
In some areas the United States has shown great progress since 2000 to attain a sustainable energy system. According to analysts carbon intensity of gross domestic product and energy has shown a declined between 2000 and 2006 (U.S Department of Energy Laboratory, 2009). In these years the U.S has been able to increase its output without necessarily increasing its greenhouse gas emissions or energy use for that matter. In 2007 President Bush signed an order for strengthening Federal Environment, Energy, and Transportation Management The priority areas for the order include recycling, energy efficiency, toxic reductions, conservation of water and sustainable buildings (FedCenter.gov 2009). Similar efforts in 2009 led President Obama to sign a new executive order on federal sustainability (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010). This was meant to challenge federal agencies to spearhead environmental and energy performance. The agencies had to comply within 90 days to reduce greenhouse by 2020. In addition the order targets reduction in waste and petroleum use, support of sustainable communities and buildings. It also advocates for the purchase of green products and technologies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (2010).

Benefits of Recycling
There are economic and environmental benefits of recycling. The economic benefits according to the National Recycling Coalition vary from cutting costs to employment creation. It has been observed that the more people recycle the less expensive it gets. For instance the New York City leaders had earlier referred to recycling as a 40 million drain. A couple of years later the leaders realized the program would save 20 million for the city. This led the leaders to sign a 20-year contract for recycling (A Recycling Revolution, 2010).  In addition 1.1 million jobs have been created in the United States as a consequence of recycling (Russell, 2010). This accounts for 236 billion and 37 billion in annual gross sales and annual payrolls respectively.

According to the National Recycling Coalition there was a significant decline in the amount of materials deposited in incinerators and landfills. In a span of ten years between 1990 and 2000 almost 70 million tons were drawn away up from 34 million tons (A Recycling Revolution, 2010). The United States has been reported to be one of the major world pollutants of the environment. Mineral processing alone sends 1.5 tons of pollution in water and air (A Recycling Revolution, 2010). This toxic emissions emerging from industries can be significantly reduced by recycling.

The amount of energy used to recycle aluminum is 95 less than the energy used to make it from raw materials (Russell, 2010). Similarly it saves up to 60 recycling steel, 40 recycled glass, 70recycled plastic and 40 recycled newspaper (A Recycling Revolution, 2010). The savings from recycling far much outweigh the energy derived as a by-product of landfilling and incineration.

Effects of Non-reuse
The effects of not using recyclable materials include soil erosion as a result of mining and logging, loss of biodiversity, and general destruction of natural habitat. The most serious threat is the release of greenhouse gas emissions. As much as the emissions create a favorable climate to sustain life, high concentration levels is dangerous. Less energy is used in recycling compared to manufacturing products using virgin products. There is a smaller amount fossil fuels burned, less carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition natural resources are observed to fuel brutal wars in many regions of the world. These resources including minerals and timber have led to the displacement and death of at least 20 million people. Equally more than 10 billion is raised annually for repressive governments, warlords and rebels.

Conclusion
With todays modern technological advancements in architecture and design, new ways of using up more recyclable materials in buildings have been discovered. This has ensured a more eco-effective place to live, that uses less energy, and might prove more pleasurable in some cases. The world environment is threatened by the massive usage of petroleum in material production which emits green house gasses. Global warming has been a concern of all countries due its adverse effects on the environment. Not recycling materials is simply an extreme use and waste of materials. Recycling is one of the most important practices that help our environment, thus we should all sustain recycling to have a better and healthier world for ourselves and future generations.