Every day, waste that has reached the end of its useful life and has now become harmful to our environment, commonly referred to as "trash," is generated as a result of a person's social and economic activities. Their complete recycling is our ultimate goal.
So how should waste management be? If waste is not managed properly, it becomes a serious problem for both the environment and human health. In this regard, the "Waste Management Regulation" published by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization is a regulation we can benefit from.
The reuse of waste can only be achieved through recycling. Recycling refers to the process of converting these wastes, which have the potential for re-evaluation, into secondary raw materials through various processes. According to our national legislation, in every condition where waste is produced, it is essential to recover waste through reuse, recycling, and other processes aimed at obtaining secondary raw materials, as well as to use it as an energy source or to dispose of it.
Waste recycling can be done by reusing materials such as paper, glass, plastic, and metal, as well as by using organic waste as natural fertilizer. The reuse of materials that have been recycled through this process increases sustainability by reducing the use of energy, water, and raw materials needed to produce new resources.
Let's Not Dispose, Let's Recycle
Although sentences like "The environment poses a problem for humanity" can be seen in the news, in reality, "humans" are a great danger to the environment. Despite being rational beings, we have forgotten that nature can exist without us, but we cannot live without a clean nature, and unfortunately, our nature has already begun to react to this. The more we reduce our waste and the more conscious we are about reuse, the sooner we will start living in harmony with our nature, which means a more livable world for us.
In recent years, one of the projects that has been carried out in the name of recycling and continues to make a name for itself is the "Zero Waste" project. Thanks to "Zero Waste," materials such as glass, paper, and plastic are recycled according to their type.
We have started to collect our recyclable waste separately at the source and to reduce waste; in other words, we have become more aware. Of course, not every waste can be recycled. For example, cardboard cups cannot be recycled because they are coated with a petroleum-derived plastic material on the inside and come into contact with liquids. Foam plates and cups that we use for consuming food and drinks are also included in this category. Especially our medical and hazardous wastes are generally disposed of by being incinerated in high-temperature furnaces under controlled conditions, as they contain a very high amount of toxic substances.**The 3Rs of Sustainability**If we want to meet our needs within a sustainable environment, we must empower while conserving our natural resources. Therefore, a new approach to resource use has been developed in the face of industrial development, population growth, and rapidly increasing consumption on a global scale.**The 3Rs of Sustainability:**Reduction,
Reuse, and
Recycling.The essence of reduction is to protect existing products and extend their lifespan. The reuse strategy is to ensure that a product is used again within the same cycle. Collecting glass bottles and reusing them for beverages is an example of reuse. The goal of recycling is to ensure that products are produced again from waste materials.**So, What Are the Stages of Recycling?**Source Separation: Recyclable waste is separated from garbage at the place it is generated and collected.
Classification: Waste collected separately at the source is classified based on glass, metal-plastic, and paper.
Evaluation: Waste returns to the economy as a new material through physical and chemical changes.
Reintroducing New Products to the Economy: The recycled product is made available for use as a new material.
“Can I apply recycling in my daily life?” If you ask; everyone can recycle. You can contribute to a sustainable environment by doing it at home, in the office, at work, and at school, and in this cycle, you can use our limited natural resources without wasting them. All you have to do is collect the products and their packaging you consume and deliver them to the points where appropriate recyclable waste is collected.
The Advantages Are Endless
Recycling not only contributes to the protection of the environment but also plays an important role in the growth of the economy as it ensures that necessary resources are used more economically. By creating a separate sector and opening new job opportunities, it also raises the standard of living. Besides contributing to a sustainable environment by causing less consumption of natural materials, it helps increase energy efficiency. At the same time, it leads to the production of fewer greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide and methane, which cause global warming, thus enabling active participation in the prevention of the climate crisis.
After all these advantages it provides to the environment and human health, are we ready to recycle?
