How are we improving our recycling?
Recycling is an essential process that requires a large amount of technology. Over the past years those technologies have improved to keep up with the demand for recycling.
One thing that has improved is the collection service. In the past the main way to collect recyclables was to have them sorted at your home and picked up separately. According to Shippenbourg in 2014 "it was very common to collect the recycled material as source separated, where the residents separate everything and place multiple containers at the curb." But now that our technologies have improved you can merely throw all of your recyclables into the same bin, which is much easier for users.
In some areas the problem is motivating people to sort there recyclables and waste into two separate bins. There are two main solutions for this problem. In some areas people get finned for not recycling, while in others people get paid to recycle by the individual bottles and cans. Both of these solutions have been effective and improved the rate of recycling in that area.
In some areas people have to drive their recyclables to the sorting station themselves and most people can't be bothered to do this, so recyclables end up in the rubbish bin (which does get collected). Other people don't know what can and can't go in the recycling bin and so don't use it at all. But with modern technologies (like the internet) it is easy to research any questions you have. If you are confused about recycling go to http://nawma.sa.gov.au/material/recycling.asp for a list of recyclable things.
Technologies have also improved in the industry of making products out of recycled materials. "In terms of products created from recycled materials, Motorola recently unveiled a cell phone made from recycled materials." (McNamara B. 2009) In the past we have only been able to recycle things into exactly the same thing, or something of lesser quality. But now we can make a phone from recycled water bottle plastic or a pencil from recycled paper. This improvement is extraordinary and makes you wonder what improvements will be made in the future.
Throughout our history humans have been recycling and our methods are gradually improving. In the future it is likely that we will continue to improve our methods until we are completely sustainable.
One thing that has improved is the collection service. In the past the main way to collect recyclables was to have them sorted at your home and picked up separately. According to Shippenbourg in 2014 "it was very common to collect the recycled material as source separated, where the residents separate everything and place multiple containers at the curb." But now that our technologies have improved you can merely throw all of your recyclables into the same bin, which is much easier for users.
In some areas the problem is motivating people to sort there recyclables and waste into two separate bins. There are two main solutions for this problem. In some areas people get finned for not recycling, while in others people get paid to recycle by the individual bottles and cans. Both of these solutions have been effective and improved the rate of recycling in that area.
In some areas people have to drive their recyclables to the sorting station themselves and most people can't be bothered to do this, so recyclables end up in the rubbish bin (which does get collected). Other people don't know what can and can't go in the recycling bin and so don't use it at all. But with modern technologies (like the internet) it is easy to research any questions you have. If you are confused about recycling go to http://nawma.sa.gov.au/material/recycling.asp for a list of recyclable things.
Technologies have also improved in the industry of making products out of recycled materials. "In terms of products created from recycled materials, Motorola recently unveiled a cell phone made from recycled materials." (McNamara B. 2009) In the past we have only been able to recycle things into exactly the same thing, or something of lesser quality. But now we can make a phone from recycled water bottle plastic or a pencil from recycled paper. This improvement is extraordinary and makes you wonder what improvements will be made in the future.
Throughout our history humans have been recycling and our methods are gradually improving. In the future it is likely that we will continue to improve our methods until we are completely sustainable.