[mike512]

For years we have been hearing that plastic, aluminum and paper should be recycled. The arguments have included environmental concerns, shortage of resources, economic issues, and numerous others. When I ask people today, "Why are you recycling?", the most common response I hear is, "Because it's better for the environment." But is it? Really?
Let's look at a few of the most often cited reasons for recycling: helping the environment, saving money, and saving resources.
Many people, when given the choice between recycled paper and new paper will choose recycled. By using the recycled paper these people believe that they are "saving a tree" or conserving our natural resources. In reality, recycled paper actually requires more resources - including trees.
To make recycled paper a mix of old paper (newsprint, copier paper, etc.) is combined with fresh pulp from newly cut trees. So, in adition to the numerous trees that are cut to make fresh paper, trees are also cut to produce recycled paper. But trees are not the only resource used in making paper. Paper plants require power, and to get that power we usually burn coal, oil or gas - with some power coming from hydro-electric plants. The process by which old paper is turned into pulp to use in making recycled paper uses fossil fuels in the same way as non-recycled paper. Another popular recycled product is the aluminum can. On Earth, only gypsum is more common than aluminum. Conserving aluminum serves no useful end.
Some people believe that by using recycled products they are saving money, but if examined closely this proves to be inaccurate. Recycled products do tend to be somewhat less expensive on store shelves, but the retail cost does not always tell the whole story. Who is paying for the recycling? Quite often recycling programs are paid for by taxpayers. And once your local recycler collects your trash and processes it, they turn around and sell it to whichever company will make the retail products. So when you see a roll of recycled toilet paper on sale for $.50 less than fresh paper, that doesn't account for the tax money you have paid to make the recycling program a reality. Remember also that your tax dollars also must be used to pay the employees of government-run recycling programs.
Now, the most common reason for recycling ... saving the environment. Wrong again. As mentioned previously, creating recycled materials consumes massive amounts of other resources - oil, gas, coal, etc. When we create plastics, papers, aluminum products and other items that can be recycled later, we burn tons of fossil fuels and introduce tons of toxic gasses and other substances into the environment. When we then return these items to be re-processed into recycled products, we burn tons of fossil fuels and introduce tons of toxic gasses and other substances into the environment. So ultimately we are actually doubling our contribution to environmental pollution.
Many people are genuinely concerned about the effects and believe that their efforts to recycle have a positive impact on the environment, and their concern and effort should be applauded. However, there needs to be a movement toward awareness of our actions and the impact that they have on our world. I have thought long and hard about the rationale behind recycling, and the only reason I can think of for the hard push made by so many government and private organizations to encourage recycling is this: there are billions of dollars to be made by recycling. The government makes money from it. Private businesses make money from it. Citizens earn a living working in it. Recycling is big business, but it is also mostly a scam.
We need to take the emphasis off the recycling and put it on conserving and re-using. When we take showers, use less water. When we use paper, use both sides. When we have empty bottles, rinse them out and re-use them. There are limitless possibilities for re-use of numerous everyday items that won't cost any additional money.
So before you take your next load of recycling out to the curb, double-check that there's nothing in there you can use again. Reconsider the types of containers you buy - glass is always better than plastic. Don't just accept what you hear, do your own research and make your own judgements. And don't take my word for it ... the information is out there.