Research Proposal

Description: In this assignment, you will create a research proposal consisting of three sections: Section 1: What is the topic? (100-150 words) 

Section 2: What is the controversy? Include paragraphs that detail both sides of the controversy. (300-400 words)

Section 3: Your tentative thesis statement (one to two sentences) 

Also you must include at least two references and in text citations.

Running head: RECYCLING CAN BE WORTH IT 1

Recycling Can Be Worth It, If We Focus Efforts

Student’s Name

Columbia Southern University

RECYCLING CAN BE WORTH IT 2

Recycling Can Be Worth It, If We Focus Our Efforts

The Topic

For decades, people have expressed concern about the environment and how human

activity may impact it in a negative way. Conservation efforts have included global concerns

about production waste, water pollution, and endangered species. Because the scope of human

activity has an array of negative effects, many people feel somewhat powerless to affect any kind

of real change. As a result, ecologists and activists have attempted to educate the public about

ways that every individual might make small changes that will begin to alleviate long-term

effects. One of these methods is household recycling. Recently, however, some people have

begun to question the efficacy of recycling as a means for alleviating landfill waste.

The Controversy

An on-going concern is that recycling is not the solution that the U.S. government

thought it would be in the 1980s. While many people do not disagree that recycling is a good

idea, there is little to incentivize people to recycle. Further, some people even question whether

recycling bottles is better for the environment because of the shear amount of energy resources

used in the production of recycled bottles that still cause waste. There is increasing concern

about unsustainable resources and whether or not the human race can afford not to recycle.

Pro Side of the Controversy

While there are imperfections in the recycling process, those in favor of recycling

contend that investing in the process is worth it because of the positive impacts to the

environment. According to the Aluminum Association (as cited in Moss & Scheer, 2015),

aluminum cans are the most recycled material, which is good because recycling these cans saves

aluminum and only uses 8% of the energy to make a new can. Recycling prevents the release of

RECYCLING CAN BE WORTH IT 3

dangerous carbon dioxide. According to Moss and Scheer (2015), who interviewed the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency in 2013, recycling and compositing saved nearly 186 million

metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. Szaky (2015) argues that

those against recycling fail to account for the current impacts of failing to recycle. For example,

a new study by the 5 Gyres Institute indicates that there are more than five trillion pieces of

plastic floating on the surface of the world’s oceans, which is roughly the weight of 134,500

average U.S. cars (Elks & Hower, 2014). While the statistics can be staggering, others are

concerned about the economic questions regarding recycling and sustainability.

Con Side of the Controversy

Those who question recycling do so on the basis of effectiveness and convenience.

Hutchinson (2008) contends that while a plastic water bottle might last in a landfill for centuries,

the petroleum reused is barely worth the diesel fuel burned by the large trucks sent to collect the

bottles. While recycling aluminum is worth the energy, recycling glass uses 21% less energy

(Hutchinson, 2008). There are further concerns about looking at recycling as part of a larger

picture. For example, Chris Goodall calculates that “if you wash plastic in water that was heated

by coal-derived electricity, then the net effect of your recycling could be more carbon in the

atmosphere” (as cited in Tierney, 2015). While some cities are attempting to convert to a “zero

trash” policy within the next 15 to 20 years, there is no guarantee that these expensive measures

will have any positive impacts on the environment; in fact, many speculate that the benefits are

few (Tierney, 2015).

RECYCLING CAN BE WORTH IT 4

Tentative Thesis Statement

Recycling efforts should continue because materials that are recycled are often

unsustainable, there should be a more focused effort to recycle materials that have a

reproduction-cost benefit.

References

Elks, J., & Hower, M. (2014, December 18). Reports find over 5 trillion pieces of plastic floating

in the world’s oceans…and 10,000 times more in the deep sea. Retrieved from

http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/waste_not/mike_hower/report_5_tril

lion_pieces_plastic_floating_world%E2%80%99s_oceans

Hutchinson, A. (2008, November 12). Is recycling worth it? PM investigates its economic and

environmental impact. Retrieved from http://www.popularmechanics.com/science

/environment/a3752/4291566/

Moss, D., & Scheer, R. (2015, November 5). Is recycling worth it? Retrieved from

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-recycling-worth-it/

Szaky, T. (2015, October 13). 7 reasons why recycling is not a waste: A response to “The Reign

of Recycling.” Retrieved from http://www.sustainablebrands.com/

news_and_views/waste_not/tom_szaky/7_reasons_why_recycling_not_waste_response_r

eign_recycling

Tierney, J. (2015, October 3). The reign of recycling. The New York Times. Retrieved from

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opinion/sunday/the-reign-of-recycling.html?_r=0