07 the process of recycling

REPETITION

1. How Does Recycling Work?
It’s everybody’s responsibility to protect the environment and conserve the
limited resources that we have on the earth. Over the course of the past
decade, recycling has become the norm for most families and businesses in
the United States as well as in many other countries.
The basic concept of recycling involves taking objects that are no longer
needed, such as old paper or plastic bottles, and repur posing them to
create something new. Let’s take a closer look at the process.
On a small scale, people recycle all the time. For example, they might take
items around the house that no longer serve their original purpose and
find another use for them instead of throwing them away.
Recycling on a large scale involves taking used goods, including packaging
and other garbage, and transforming them into new products. The plastic,
metal, and glass in bottles and cans can be melted down and reused .
melted = when a solid turns to a liquid after being heated up
In some cases, the products made from recycled mater ials are not as
desirable as new products. This is because they may have a few more
flaws. When paper has been recycled, it can contain bits of ink, so it is not
perfectly white. Also, the fibers are a little weaker than those in brand-

2. new paper. Whenever the recycled products are less valuable than the
originals, it is called “downcycling.” Many materials can only be recycled a
certain number of times before they become entirely unusable.
On the other hand, there is also “upcycling.” This is when recycled
materials are turned into some thing that is more valuable than the original.
Artwork, jewelry, and furniture made from recycled mater ial fall into this
category.
If your town offers recycling service, you can get recycling bins, which are
similar to your garbage bins. You would put all of your recyc lables into this
container, and then the city would come and pick it up, just as they do with
the trash. This material then goes to a recycling center, where it is sorted
and then recycled.
bins = large containers
Make sure to separate your recyclable material from the rest of the
garbage. This is the most difficult part for people who are used to throwing
everything out. Once you get into the habit though, it becomes second
nature.
second nature = a habit or behavior that you’ve done so frequently
that now you can do it without consciously thinking about it

3. In the past, many people had a lackadaisical attitude towards recycling. But
since the 1970s, the movement has been picking up steam. We now have a
better understan ding of how our waste and pollution can affect the world
both today and tomorrow. Recycling cuts down on the amount of garbage
in landfills.
lackadaisical = not enthusiastic about, don’t really care about
picking up steam = increasing momentum and strength
landfills = areas where garbage is stored and buried
The landfills of the past were dirty, they took up a lot of space, and they
could cause pollution because people were often throwing all kinds of
chemicals into the garbage. The efforts made to encourage recyc ling have
helped reduce the amount of trash put into the landfills by about 32%. This
means that more than 6 0 tons of trash are getting recycled each year.
Recycling also decreases the amount of natural resources that we
consume, meaning that the finite resources available on the planet will last
longer. Recycling is a small step for each household and city, but it makes a
significant impact. When you recycle, you are doing future generations a
favor.
household = a domestic unit of people living together in a house