Know 7 Negative Effects of Recycling

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negative effects of recycling

It is true that recycling is a wonderful practice, one that helps to restore the environment in many ways and ensures minimum wastage. Recycling is nature-friendly and is one practice which everyone must engage in at whatever level they can. But like all other things, recycling too has its flip side.

This practice is also associated with few negatives which one must be informed about to take a correct decision. Only after knowing its negative effects must one decide whether they wish to recycle cloth, paper and other items or not. The following is a list of the 7 main negative effects of recycling.

negative effects of recycling

1. Recycled Products do not have a Long Life

One of the main disadvantages or negative effects of recycling are that recycled products do not always have a very long life. The products thus produced may not be too durable since they are made out of trashed goods. They may either be fragile or overly used and recycling them to produce new ones may not result in the best quality goods.

2. High Initial Cost

The recycling unit set up to recycle goods may be very expensive, thus increasing the initial setting up costs. This is why it may not be possible for everyone to set it up and recycle items.  Some other items which may contribute to the costs include utility vehicles, processing facility and other such things.

3. Not Widespread

Recycling may definitely help to reduce pollution but it is not widespread on a large scale. Recycling often occurs at a small scaled schools or home and is yet to achieve widespread popularity. Only when recycling is spread on a large scale would it provide the maximum benefits.

4. Unsafe and Unhygienic Recycling Sites

Another major disadvantage of recycling is that it is often unsafe and unhygienic. Recyclable items consists of solid wastes and other kinds of debris which may be dirty or may cause widespread pollution. Such kind of waste is usually mixed with water and can lead to leach ate formation and can result in toxification.

5. May not be Cost Effective

Recycling is not a very cost effective practice. Often, there is a need to set up separate industries or factories to process reusable items. This may create pollution which may further need cleaning, transportation and storage. Thus the overall costs to meet the requirements go beyond the benefits provided by the practice.

6. Some Products are Better Left Unrecycled

There are many items which are better if they are left unrecycled. The process of recycling many items like glass is more detrimental than the process involved in creating it from scratch and hence such items must be left untouched.

7. Recycling gives False Promises

Recycling is a big concept and is getting popular day by day but it is important to understand that it makes more promises than the benefits it provides. It would be fair to say that recycling often leads to high expectations which may be left unfulfilled.

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