It is estimated that more than 43% of all the collected waste in the United Kingdom is recycled, broken down or used for compost. What is more, household recycling in the country has increased by more than 230% only during the first decade of the 21st century. Municipalities in the UK throw a great deal of money and effort into recycling. But household recycling is like a coin – it has two sides. It comes with both benefits and downsides and now we will explore each of the sides of this coin.
What is recycling
In the most basic terms, recycling is a process that turns waste or used materials into new materials. It has become a key part of the waste management strategies of countries all over the world, including of that of the United Kingdom. The use of professional house clearance services in London, for example, are greatly encouraged as most of the waste collected by licensed companies in this industry is being sent to specialised facilities where they are later recycled.
Advantages
Materials that have been recycled are cheaper. This means that items made from them will also be more inexpensive. Therefore, recycled products are often more budget-friendly than those that were made from brand new materials.
Also, when we recycle our domestic waste we preserve the environment. That is because this process effectively decreases:
- Water pollution;
- Air pollution;
- Pollution produced from the generation of electric power;
The recycling of paper can also save a lot of trees and it can partly solve the widespread problem of deforestation. In addition to all of that, the production of raw materials requires the use of much more electricity compared to the production of recycled materials which means yet another point in the pro-recycling column.
Disadvantages
We bet that you thought that recycling has absolutely no drawbacks. Well, it does but they are not as many as the benefits that it offers. Still, the first and probably the greatest disadvantage of this practice is that if it is not done properly, it can actually cause damage to the environment. That is why it is very important to always hire fully-equipped and reputable rubbish collectors. They will make sure that all of your recyclable waste is quickly transported to a recycling facility. Plus, they will dispose of your non-recyclable rubbish at registered junk depots.
The second big drawback of recycling has to do with recycled materials and products. Items that are either fully or partly made of materials that have been recycled tend to be available at a very competitive price. That, however, is not always the case. For example, some companies that sell recycled paint or construction materials often put a high price on their eco-friendly products. Also, sometimes recycled materials are of a much lower quality compared to raw materials. Such is usually the case with recycled paper. That is because the chemicals used in its production can spoil the fibres of the paper.
But despite the fact that the recycling of waste comes not only with pros but also with cons, it is important for households to at least dispose of their rubbish in a responsible way. Leave the recycling to the pros.