Should Recycling Be Mandatory?

Do you think recycling should be mandatory?

Recycling should be mandatory because we as a planet have a waste problem. We are the only ones that can fix it, and we should be bound by a law to do so.

Education, Logistics and Marketing Strategies Can Lower Recycling Costs. They have also cut costs by scaling back the frequency of curbside pickups and automating sorting and processing.
(www.opala.org/solid_waste/archive/Mandatory_Recycling_)

Opposing Argument- By cutting costs there are people that are out of work. It may make sense to employ people rather than enforce a recycling law.

Rebuttal- By enforcing the law people will live in a cleaner environment. Each city can develop their own recycling program and that may create more jobs for the community.

Recycling is Mandatory in Some U.S. Cities
While recycling remains an option for most Americans, a few cities, such as Pittsburgh, San Diego and Seattle, have made recycling mandatory. Seattle passed its mandatory recycling law in 2006 as a way to counter declining recycling rates there. Recyclables are now prohibited from both residential and business garbage. Businesses must sort for recycling all paper, cardboard and yard waste. Households must recycle all basic recyclables, such as paper, cardboard, aluminum, glass and plastic.
(www.westchestergov.com/environment_recycling.htm)

Opposing Argument- By the cities enforcing the recycling law is it possible that the businesses and residential customers are disguising their waste instead of recycling it? Thus causing employees to rummage through garbage to find culprits

Rebuttal- For a customer to disguise their waste would take greater effort than it would to recycle the items in the first place.

More than 56 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. during 2007 was recovered for recycling — an all-time high. This impressive figure equals nearly 360 pounds of paper for each man, woman, and child in America. (Paper Industry Association Council, 2007)

Over 73% of all newspapers are recovered for recycling. Almost a third goes back into making more newsprint. The remainder is used to make paperboard, tissue, and insulation, or exported. (Keep America Beautiful, 2006)

Opposing Argument- If we reuse the newspaper to make these other items then why is the cost higher to purchase something “green” than something not “green”?

Rebuttal- Personally, I would rather purchase something at a higher cost if it were “green” than to purchase something that was not. Simply by doing that I would support the 3 R’s. Reduce Reuse Recycle.