March is a very important month for environmentalist. In addition to 18^th March - World recycling day, there are lots of activities happening around the globe to raise environmental awareness like…

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit your community and the environment.

It is a process of breaking the item down into smaller components and using these materials as a replacement for materials in newly manufactured goods. (A plastic bottle can be recycled and made into a different plastic product.)

The New "Rs" of Sustainability

These R’s need to be considered before thinking of recycling.  In other words, these are the best ways to minimize the impact of waste.

Recycling requires a lot of inputs: inefficient trucks to pick it up and transport it, massive machinery to sort it and break it down, more machinery to produce the new good, then more energy and resources to distribute the good. This entire process uses energy and generates waste.

Reuse is less impactful because it cuts out all of the downstream impacts of recycling.

REDUCE

The most important step you can do in the process is to cut down on the amount of materials you use on a daily basis. This is the overall, overarching, and much better alternative to recycling.

REUSE

Think of creative ways to reuse those products that you might otherwise throw away at some point in the day. Use your brains - you can think of some very cool ideas!

REFUSE

The "refuse" part comes in when you refuse to use all of those wasteful products (computer printouts, for example) that you use regularly. Sit down and think about your usage - what can you say no to?

REFILL

Don't just toss away that empty water bottle into the recycling bin. Go ahead and fill it back up with something else you might consume later! Refilling containers instead of throwing them away is a key alternative to recycling.

REPAIR

Is something broken that can get fixed? Work on it and get it back in working condition before it goes into the recycling bin! You'll get the pride that comes along with fixing something alongside helping to save the planet.

REPURPOSE

Have something recyclable that may have a second life in some other fashion? Consider alternatives before you recycle anything!

REGIFT

Before anything goes into recycling, stop and think, "Wait, is there someone else in my life that might need this?"

RETHINK

This encompasses everything. Stop and take in your entire aspect of the recycling process. Rethink your complete approach to the system. Are you doing all you can? What can you do better?

RECOVER

Your recyclable materials may be able to get used to fuel something else!

RESTORE

Finally, one of the critical efforts - try to bring back materials that are on the verge of getting recycled and use them productively

Why should we recycle?

Recycling helps protect the environment

Recycling reduces the need for extracting, refining and processing raw materials all of which create air and water pollution.

As recycling saves energy it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change.

Recycling conserves resources

When we recycle, materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources which will help to protect natural habitats for the future.

Recycling saves energy

Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials.

Recycling reduces landfill

When we recycle, recyclable materials are reprocessed into new products, and as a result the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites decreases which reduces emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.