Name: Joshua Lee Yee Kai

ID: 0315820

Module: ENGL0105

Session: July, 2013

The awareness of recycling has been growing and instilled among a lot of

people. Many people these days are aware of the benefits of recycling to the

environment and are cultivating the good habit. It is because of the many benefits that

recycling has to offer to not only the people but to the environment as well that most of

the key players of industries are putting recycling into practice. One of the many

industries that use recycled materials is no other than the construction industry. Some

clients or developers seek a more approachable way to not only reduce the cost of

construction but also to implement a greener concept of building by using recycled

timber, glass and concrete in the construction of the buildings.

As we all know, a tree that is chopped down will take years to grow back and

reach maturity and then be chopped down again. That is why by using recycled timber,

we get to reduce deforestation. The fact that chopping down one tree may not startle

anyone but at the same time that one tree that is chopped down may be a habitat and a

place called home for some of our animals like birds, insects and also squirrels. At

times, we forget that we are sharing our air with the animal kingdoms in this earth.

Besides that, by using recycled timber we also get to reduce global warming. Global

warming is affecting us worldwide and this issue has to be taken seriously as the ice in

the Arctic is melting at an alarming rate because of the warm change in climate. Our

precious trees that are chopped down are actually the ones that are absorbing the key

greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide which is emitted by our cars and power plants

(Earth Talk, n.d.). Therefore, we should take note of this matter and start using recycled

timber as a substitute for raw timber. In this way, we get to address and reduce the rate

of melting of ice in the Arctic.

On the other hand, glass is also another material that is widely used for windows

and glass panels in the construction of a building. Glass is one hundred percent

recyclable and can be recycled over and over again without losing its purity (The Glass

Recycling Company, n.d.). That is why many opt to use recycled glass as it not only

helps save money in the construction of a building but also greatly enhance the

economy of the construction industries. Besides that, by using recycled glass from glass

bottles, light bulbs and broken glassware we also get to reduce waste from filling up

landfills. Although recycling of glass is highlighted many times and it seems easy to be

managed, still it is easier said than done as many people choose not to go through the

hassle of picking up broken chips of glass to be recycled. However, we are actually

helping to preserve our environment by recycling glass like fluorescent bulbs which

contains mercury that will contaminate landfills (Access Washington, n.d.). According to

Ground Work (n.d.), In February 2003, about 20 people living near the Vissershoek

toxic landfill site in Cape Town, suffered mercury poisoning from breathing mercury-

contaminated dust which was blown off from the landfill site. Therefore, we should instill

the habit of recycling to reduce the waste sent to landfills. By doing so, we can reduce

contamination and pollution to us and our environment.

Furthermore, concrete is one of the most widely used manmade materials in the

construction industry as it is easily obtained, is very strong and can endure high

temperatures from fire for a long time without losing its structural integrity (BUILDINGS,

2005). The term concrete recycling has been growing and is becoming more common to

fully utilize the rubble on site (Wikipedia, n.d.). By using recycled concrete, it not only

cuts down the construction cost but at the same time saves the natural resources like

cement by reusing the remains that was demolished (Construction Materials Recycling

Association, n.d.). Therefore improving the economics and preserving the earth of its

natural resources for the future. Recycling of concrete is a relatively simple process. It

involves breaking, removing, and crushing existing concrete into a material with a

specified size and quality (Portland Cement Association, n.d.). Besides that, by reusing

the concretes it also reduces the amount of waste transported to landfills. Hence, we

get to save both landfill space and transport cost arising from sending waste to landfills.

Finally, by using recyclable products to construct buildings is a very good

approach to help preserve the environment. However this can only be done with the

cooperation of not only the people in the construction industry but also everyone else. It

is necessary for people to start recycling as a daily habit and start looking at waste as

potential recyclable material (Writing For The Environment And Community Organizing,

2012). Also, buying recycled-content materials too helps ensure that the materials

collected in recycling programs will be used again in the manufacture of new products

(US Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). By doing so, we can save our

environment and preserve it for the coming generations.

References

Access Washington. (n.d.). Glass. Retrieved September 23, 2013,

from http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/recyclefaq.html

BUILDINGS. (2005, January 6). Concrete VS Steel. Retrieved September 23, 2013,

from http://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/2511/title/concrete-vs-steel.aspx

Construction Materials Recycling Association. (n.d.). Good Economic Sense. Retrieved

September 23, 2013, from http://www.concreterecycling.org/

Earth Talk. (n.d.). Which Trees Offset Global Warming Best?. Retrieved September 23,

2013, from http://environment.about.com/od/whatyoucando/a/best_trees.htm

Groundwork. (n.d.). Mercury. Retrieved September 23, 2013,

from http://www.groundwork.org.za/Pamphlets/mercury.htm

Portland Cement Association. (n.d.). Materials Aggregate. Retrieved September 23,

2013, from http://www.cement.org/tech/cct_aggregates_recycled.asp

The Glass Recycling Company. (n.d.). Facts About Glass. Retrieved September 23,

2013,

from http://www.theglassrecyclingcompany.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view

=article&id=86&Itemid=60

US Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, December 12). Choosing Green Materials

And Products. Retrieved September 23, 2013, from http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/SmarterMaterialChoices.htm

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Concrete Recycling. Retrieved September 23, 2013,

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_recycling

Writing For The Environment And Community Organizing. (2012, May 4). Essay 1 Cause/Effect – Recycling: GREENS and Benefits. Retrieved September 23, 2013, from http://envirowriters.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/essay-1-causeeffect-recycling-greens-and-benefits/