Recycling

What is recycling?  Recycling is when old material is convert into its original or reused to create new material.

Why should we recycles?  Reduce amount of garbage in landfills  Cleaner environment  Stop mining for new resources and save habitats and the animals living in them  Conserve resources  Limit pollution  Conserves Energy*  Resell recycled products

 All our garbage goes to landfills and are buried.  Landfills are piles of garbage buried and covered up with soil.  Landfills often contain items that are not biodegradable like plastic.  Biodegradation is the natural break down of biological (natural) agents.  However they can be melted down and reused in carpets, park benches, picnic tables and Eco-wood  Plastic bottles that contain color can not be reused  Recycling in Calgary: Where does it all go?

If we don’t recycle who does it effect?  When we don’t recycle it leads to an increase in waste in our landfills, when the landfills start to overflow we begin to create more landfills, which effects our environment in a negative way.  From the piles of landfill a liquid substance filtered through solid wastes called Leachate is released.  As well as harmful gases such as carbon dioxide and methane are released into the atmosphere  Untreated toxic leachate from landfills can filter through solid wastes, seep into the soil and runoff into nearby bodies of water.  The toxic chemicals can effect our drinking water!  Negative effects of lanfills:

 Recycling does not only effect us but it effects the animal life around us.  Runoff of toxic waste in water can kill marine life.

Composting:  Biodegradable items such as kitchen and yard waste can be composted in your own backyard.  The waste is exposed to oxygen and easily allows waste to break down and decompose.  You can add the decomposed waste to your garden and use it as a fertilizer because it is rich in nutrients and provides moisture for the soil resulting in a healthier garden.