Widener Commonwealth Law Review
Abstract
Most Americans do not hesitate to throw something away, but a lack of recycling is causing landfills to overflow with products that could be reused and repurposed. In 2017, it was estimated that the average American creates 4.51 pounds of garbage per day, nearly double the amount of the 2.68 pounds Americans produced on average in 1960. Recycling in the United States has become problematic as recycling companies turn away recyclables that have been contaminated with food and other nonrecyclables. The effect is that not nearly enough recyclable products are being repurposed, with many of them ending up in landfills. These landfills are causing environmental harm, including water pollution, land contamination, and the emittance of harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the air. In addition to the environmental benefits linked to increased recycling, there is also the potential for economic gain. For every ten thousand tons of recycling that is removed, thirty-six jobs are created, compared to the six jobs that are created for every ten thousand tons of waste removed.
Recommended Citation
Williamson, Lindsay A.
(2024)
"The United States' Recycling Model is in Desperate Need of a Makeover,"
Widener Commonwealth Law Review: Vol. 33:
Iss.
2, Article 4.
Available at:
https://cwldc.widener.edu/wclr/vol33/iss2/4
