Ömer Karadeniz

PLASFED President

 

Recycling constitutes one of the most important tools we have to protect our future. However, for this tool to be effective, everyone needs to actively participate in this process. Please remember: every waste leaves a mark...

 

Global warming, depletion of natural resources, and air and water pollution are undoubtedly serious threats to humanity. As the problems of environmental issues continue to escalate, the most important way to stop this is through recycling.

Recycling is the process of reprocessing used materials for production. This reduces the need for raw materials and makes products that are discarded into nature again available for use. For example, recycling paper decreases the cutting down of forests, and recycling glass and plastic saves energy.

In addition, the recycling industry creates jobs and contributes to economic growth. Properly sorting and recovering waste also helps to raise environmental awareness and develops a more sustainable lifestyle.

Although recycling offers numerous benefits, it cannot alone solve environmental problems. Because recycling is also an energy-consuming process and no material can be recycled infinitely. Therefore, we must primarily be careful while consuming and then turn to recycling.

 

What should we do for a sustainable future?

Recycling is one of the first steps to take towards sustainability. Here, adopting a lifestyle that causes less harm to nature is crucial. For this, we should reconsider our consumption habits, prioritize energy efficiency, and consciously use natural resources.

Recycling is a great tool for the future, but a more holistic approach is necessary to create a sustainable world. It is not possible to protect nature just by recycling without changing our consumption habits. Therefore, we should adopt more environmentally friendly policies both individually and socially, and we must not forget our responsibility to nature.

Many people may view recycling as merely sorting trash bins by their colors. However, this practice constitutes the foundation of a robust system that both protects nature and supports the economy. Materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal can be reprocessed when correctly sorted. This reduces the need for raw materials and also saves energy.

 

Recycling provides raw materials for the plastic industry

Recycling is one of the essential topics for the plastic sector. The system offers many advantages for the plastic industry. One of the significant issues in the sector is the need for raw materials; recycling is a vital subject concerning both environmental issues and the national economy... Recycled plastics can be used in new plastic production. This reduces dependence on fossil resources such as oil, facilitates waste management, prevents plastic waste from spreading into the environment, and conserves energy; less energy is consumed compared to new plastic production. It improves the environmental image; companies that recycle are perceived more positively in terms of sustainability.

 

Plastics reduce carbon emissions

As plastics have become an indispensable part of daily life in the modern world, they are also presented as one of the primary culprits of environmental pollution. Plastics, while products that facilitate many aspects of our lives, may face unfounded claims that do not reflect reality. According to numerous studies, plastics are shown to be environmentally friendly from a lifecycle perspective.

Plastics play a crucial role in combating global warming. In many industries, the use of plastics helps reduce fuel consumption by decreasing the weight of vehicles. This can alleviate the environmental impacts by reducing carbon emissions.

Furthermore, according to a study, if plastics, which are shown to be one of the main actors in environmental pollution, did not exist, the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming would rise exponentially, resulting in greater energy consumption. The use of plastic products is tracked as proven data to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

 

Economic value is created through recycling

As the Plastic Industrialists Federation, we want to draw attention to recycling for a sustainable world across all platforms. We believe that economic value can be created by returning used materials to recycling, and this is possible through the Source Separation System (KAS).

While KAS has been implemented in developed countries for about 40 years, unfortunately, our country has yet to reach the desired level in this regard. For a sustainable world, sorting waste at the source and recycling them to reduce resource consumption is of great importance. If we cannot sufficiently implement the Source Separation System, we cannot reach an adequate level in terms of sustainability and recycling technologies.

The KAS needs to be put into action as soon as possible, and the public must be educated on this matter. As NGOs, we are continuously informing our members about this issue. We expect the public to support us. We believe that together, local administrations and the central government can make significant progress in recycling. For years, Europeans have been adding value to both the ecological balance and the national economy by sorting packaging waste at the source. This is no longer a choice but a necessity. Our world's resources are not infinite; therefore, society needs to have a mindset shift towards circular economy and move away from the 'disposable' approach.

 

Environmental benefits of recycling

Recycling can be seen as an important tool in reducing the environmental impacts of the production and consumption of items like plastics, glass, and paper. It helps protect natural resources. For instance, plastic production typically relies on fossil resources like petroleum. Recycling minimizes the use of fossil fuels by reducing the need for raw materials. Moreover, plastic recycling also conserves energy. New plastic production requires considerable energy, whereas using recycled plastics significantly reduces this energy. This also helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Economic benefits of recycling

Plastic recycling also provides significant economic benefits. The recycling process creates new job opportunities, contributing to the economy. The establishment of recycling facilities leads to new employment opportunities in waste collection, sorting, and processing sectors. Additionally, recycled plastics can be procured at lower costs. This reduces raw material costs for plastic manufacturers, allowing for more affordable prices to be offered to consumers.

Recycling also contributes to the development of the circular economy understanding. The circular economy is directly related to the more efficient use of resources and the reprocessing of waste. Plastic recycling is a critical element for making such an economy possible. This not only ensures environmental sustainability but also helps the healthy continuation of economic growth.

 

Recycling is important for a sustainable future

In the plastic sector, recycling has significant importance from environmental, economic, and social perspectives. The recycling of plastic waste, as well as that of all other materials, contributes to the conservation of natural resources, energy savings, waste reduction, and economic growth. Additionally, it offers an effective global solution to struggle against waste pollution. However, recycling alone cannot be sufficient. We need to enter a recycling process with environmentally conscious production and consumption habits, not just recycling. In this regard, recycling can be seen as one of the most critical steps toward a sustainable future.

Translated by Artificial Intelligence