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...the voice of pensioners

Why is recycling important?

29 Nov 2017

We have been told many times that recycling is important, but do you really know why? These are the main reasons why we all should separate our waste for recycling:

Recycling saves resources. This is very simple to understand: when we recycle, we convert used materials into new products, which helps us reduce the need to consume natural resources. By recycling, we conserve raw materials and, therefore, protect natural habitats.

Recycling saves energy. Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials. It also has to be considered that raw materials need to be extracted, refined and transported, which also requires more energy.

Recycling helps protect the environment. If we recycle, we need to extract and refine fewer raw materials. This is very good for the environment as these processes have an extremely negative impact on air and water pollution. In other words, the more we recycle, the more energy we save so the more we do against climate change.

Recycling reduces incineration. As it has been said before, recycling means turning recyclable materials into new products and it helps reduce the amount of rubbish sent for incineration. This is very positive for two reasons: burning rubbish creates ash that is difficult to destroy and releases toxic gases into the atmosphere. By recycling we reduce both.