Question

In the USA, recycling seems to be concentrated in the following areas: New England, NY, PA, the Mid-Atlantic States and the West Coast. Most of the rest of the nation does not seem to share the same enthusiasm for recycling. Using concepts from this unit's chapter as support for your post, explain why you think this is so?

Answer 1

In the USA, recycling is concentrated in few areas and rest of the nation doesn't seem to follow the same enthusiasm. The reason for the all regions not sharing the same enthusiasm can be:

1. Some cities like Seattle and states like Connecticut have enacted mandatory laws on recycling. This law allows the authorities to fine citizens who throw away a certain percentage of recyclable materials into their garbage bin. In this case, if garbage collectors find more than 10% of the dustbin filled with recyclables, the collectors would leave a tag. On the third tag, these tenants would receive a $50 fine.

2. Some regions have initated voluntary programs to educate the citizens on recycling where it has not been mandated by the law in the area. Vermount, for example, has employed a landfill ban of materials that can be recyclyed, food, wood and other such yard waste. Citizns have to be made aware of the contamination that these landfills will lead to and the associated environmental degradation.

3. Few regions might not be sharing the same enthusiasm as recycling is both expensive and time consuming. Recycling requires a large amount of water water and energy and also needs a proper infrastructure for the same. So, few regions considering the large cost of recycling prefer virgin plastic over recycled materials.

4. Few regions of USA also provide economic incentive to people who practice recycling of their products that can be recycled. Hence, more enthusiasm in these regions to recycle than those regions where such incentive is not provided.