Question:
Aside from the social results of a mandatory recycling program for the United
States, what would it do for the environment and what specific things should
be included in this plan?
Replies:
This is a very difficult topic both in terms of the scientific questions it
raises and the political economy aspects. True recycling is difficult for
many forms of garbage. Steel and aluminum cans are stars of recycling. Some
products can be transformed into new products that are not recyclable
at this time. Specifically, the use of some plastics (recycled) in clothes
manufacture. This plastic will end up burned or in the dump eventual. Last
year it was difficult to give newspaper away but this year there is a shortage
of newsprint. However, the bleaching/deinking process require the use of
harsh chemicals. There are biotechnological solutions to this problem being
worked out now. Glass is often reused as road asphalt filler but mixed glass
can not be used for manufacture of many products because the melting
temperatures and strength can not be controlled. In other words recycling
probably will never be a near zero sum game. For every benefit there is a
trade off. Good Luck with your researches!
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