More Incentives, More Recycling Monika Chaudhry Kristin Rohrbeck Hannah Laughlin GCI1:006

Introduction In the United States awareness of recycling has become higher then ever, yet recycling rates have declined. Partly due to this fact pollution has reached an all time high. Some state governments have decided to step in; they’re offering incentives to those that recycle. If the federal government offered incentives will recycling increase, and pollution therefore decrease? We hypothesis, yes, it will!

Figure 1.1: Zero Waste America. "Waste and Recycling: Data, Maps, and Graphs." (12 October 2006) Methods

Figure 1.2: Container Recycling Institute. “States with Deposit Laws.” (16 October 2006) Methods

Figure 1.3: Container Recycling Institute. “States with Deposit Laws.” (16 October 2006) Methods

Results and Discussion The Increase of Recycling Rates Bottle Deposit States MichiganNew YorkCaliforniaMassachusettsTotal Years Average for U.S. at Implication Average Increase From Average Figure 1.5: Container Recycling Institute. “States with Deposit Laws.” (16 October 2006)

Implications So not only does recycling reduce pollution, it can also reduce disease, save lives, and save money. Preventative health plan for resources. Many people do not care about recycling, and throw away their recyclables Why should we care about recycling? Recycling not only reduces pollution, it conserves resources, energy, land, and most intriguing - money (Encarta Encyclopedia, 2006). There are consistent correlations between air pollution and chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and mortality (Viegi, 2006).

Implications

Solutions To solve the problem of the amount of un- recycled recyclables we propose that the federal government create a national deposit on aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles Consumers would be returned their deposit of $.10 to $.15 per container recycled. We have seen proof of deposit law success in the community that of which we all belong. Students separating non-returnable and returnable recyclables. Those who do not separate donate their deposit to the University or to low income citizens. We can assume that our entire country would react similarly to the way individual states have.

Conclusion Recycling is a profitable measure. Recycling rates would increase if consumers had something to gain from recycling. We can entice them with incentives offered through the government on the Federal government. Once these incentives are more greatly in effect, recycling will increase, and waste and pollution will decrease as recyclable products will be transformed into post-recycled goods, ready to be used once again.

Take Home Message More incentives = More recycling = Preservation of resources & less pollution in the future!

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