Annotated Bibliography: Recycling Efforts

Breidenbach, Andrew. Environmental Protection Agency. Composting of Municipal Solid Wastes in the United States. Washington: GPO, 1971. ERIC. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

This article addresses the subject of composting organic waste. Organic waste, like plastic and glass, also needs to be recycled. This article shows that composting is a cost effective way to recycle organic waste that would normally go to a landfill. This article gives the reader an in-depth look at organic waste management which is a component of recycling that most people never consider. The author acknowledges that composting alone is not enough and offers other alternatives for effective ways to recycle organic waste.

United States. Citizens Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality. Energy in Solid Waste: A Citizen Guide to Saving. Washington: GPO, 1975. ERIC. Web. 29 Oct. 2013

This informational booklet discusses the pressing need for recycling. The idea that materials can be recycled to save energy is covered in detail. Furthermore, this booklet addresses the difficulties involved in recycling varying types of waste. The information provided also incorporates the idea that voluntary action may not be enough, which supports the notion that recycling should be mandatory. The booklet ends with a handy glossary of “solid waste terms” which can be incorporated into the reader’s vocabulary to strengthen their arguments concerning waste disposal.

United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Recycling at Penn State's Beaver Stadium. "Recycle on the Go" Success Story. Washington: GPO, n.d. ERIC. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

This article focuses on the success of a recently enacted recycling program at Penn State. The article provides an overview of the steps the university took to create the recycling program at their football stadium. The initial cost of the program was $9000, but by the end of the year, the program had recycled 122 tons of waste, the sale of which amounted to $54,000. By showing that recycling programs can be created without much cost, and by showing the financial gains and environmentally friendly benefits that go along with recycling, this article serves as a template for the creation of larger recycling programs throughout the country.

United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Solid Waste. The Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste. Washington: GPO, 1992. ERIC. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

This handbook offers twelve novel ways that waste can be recycled. The varying methods would give a mandatory recycling program many options that could be tailored to its participants. The vast array of ways to recycle supports the idea that a mandatory recycling program could be both cheap and easy while also offering participants an opportunity to recycle many different types of waste. However, all of the recycling suggestions are tailored to voluntary recycling. This article shows that a vast difference can be made through volunteerism which conflicts with the idea that recycling should be mandatory, although voluntary participation would result in less recycling.