The Effects of Plastic Recycling

• Recycle that plastic bottle. Michael Hitoshi/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Many people today try to live a "green" lifestyle. They buy local products to lessen their carbon footprint, they buy energy-efficient cars, they conserve water and they recycle paper and plastic. Plastic recycling benefits the environment. It lowers the amount of pollution, therefore benefiting your health.

Conserves Energy

• Recycling plastic helps conserve energy. According to the website Earth 911, if you recycle 1 lb. of plastic bottles, it saves nearly 12,000 BTUs of energy.

Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• A positive effect of plastic recycling is that it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are reduced a great deal when recycled material is used instead of raw, virgin material.

Reuses

• Recycled plastics make thousands of beneficial environmentally friendly products. Lumber, fleece jackets, carpets and even high-end clothes are being made from recycled plastics. According to Green Student U, plastic lumber is actually stronger and more durable than real lumber, and it looks exactly like the real thing. Recycled plastic is also used to make toys and car parts.

Reduce Landfill Space

• Another positive effect of recycling plastic is that it reduces the amount of plastic that sits in landfills. According to Earth 911, 7.4 cubic yards of space from landfills are saved by every 1 ton of plastic that is recycled. Also, for each 1 ton of plastic that you recycle, you save the equivalent energy use for two years for one person.

Problems

• Recycling plastic might also have some negative effects. Plastic recycling has been linked to respiratory and skin problems. This could be from a plastic recycle worker being exposed to toxic fumes and inhaling it, much like the fumes emited in plastic manufacturing plants.