Austin Monroe
Essay Topic #5
One Bottle at a Time There are a myriad number of issues in both my community and state. One of the main issues is waste. Without a doubt, the best way to eliminate waste is to recycle. Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Often times, people overlook throwing that plastic bottle or piece of paper into the bin. The energy conserved by pitching one plastic bottle in the bin can light a 60-watt light bulb for six hours. That should give everyone inspiration to recycle. If waste doesn’t start to be controlled, the Earth is going to turn in one colossal landfill. That’s not good news for citizens of South Carolina or the community of Woodruff. The benefits of recycling are astounding and innumerable. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and also saves energy. It conserves natural resources such as water and minerals. In addition, it helps sustain the environment for future generations and helps create new, well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries. These benefits should inspire everybody to recycle at least one item per day. Everyone passes a blue bin with the three green arrows on it almost everywhere you go. The green arrows represent three steps, which create a continuous loop. Collection and processing, manufacturing, and purchasing new products made from recycled materials are