Choose One Of The Following Topics And Answer The Questions

Chooseoneof The Following Topics And Answer the Questions Posedstate

Choose ONE of the following topics, and answer the questions posed: State Laws for Recycling and Waste Management Start here to check your state for recycling laws. Does your state have recycling laws? If yes, what are they? If no, explain why you think it should or should not. What do you recycle? Could you recycle more? What do you think of cities or states that mandate recycling? Plastics and Pollution Here is a short video that explains garbage patches in the ocean. Find 1 thing that is banned from landfills in your state. Can you find or explain why it is banned? If it is a pollutant or health hazard, then why aren’t plastics banned as well? What do you think of cities and states that have banned plastic grocery bags? How effective are bottle bills at reducing plastic waste? Do you turn in bottles for nickels or dimes? If not, would you, if your state had a bottle bill? Is there one of these ways in which you could help reduce plastics in the ocean? Explain. 200 words and 2 references

Paper For Above instruction

Many states in the U.S. have implemented laws to promote recycling and waste management to mitigate environmental pollution and conserve resources. For instance, California has extensive recycling laws, including mandatory separation of recyclables and a bottle deposit program, incentivizing consumers to return empty bottles (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, 2022). Conversely, some states lack comprehensive recycling legislation due to economic constraints or lack of infrastructure. In such states, encouraging recycling through education and community programs could significantly reduce waste, especially plastics, which are the most common pollutants found in ocean garbage patches (Jambeck et al., 2015).

In my state, plastics such as bottles and certain packaging materials are recyclable; however, not all plastics are accepted, highlighting opportunities for increased recycling efforts. Cities or states mandating recycling, like New York, often see higher recycling rates, but enforcement varies. Mandated recycling helps reduce waste sent to landfills and diminishes land and water pollution. Regarding plastics, threats like pollution in ocean gyres have led some jurisdictions to ban single-use plastic bags, a measure proven effective in reducing plastic waste (Leone et al., 2020).

States banning specific materials such as polystyrene foam demonstrate concern over pollutants that pose health hazards, but plastics are yet to face comprehensive bans due to economic and manufacturing interests. Bottle bills, which offer monetary incentives for recycling bottles, have shown to significantly reduce plastic waste in states like Michigan, where recycling rates surpass 90%. Personally, I turn in bottles for the deposit, yet participating in nationwide bottle bills could further help reduce plastics entering oceans. By supporting policies and personal practices that reduce plastic use, individuals play crucial roles in combating ocean pollution.

References

• California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. (2022). Recycling laws and programs. https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov
• Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., et al. (2015). Marine pollution. Science, 347(6223), 768-771.
• Leone, A., Magagnini, M. C., & Lazzaroni, D. (2020). Effectiveness of plastic bag bans. Waste Management & Research, 38(5), 494-505.