A load of old rubbish
Why does recycling matter?
There is a huge focus these days on recycling. We’ve all got at least two different bins these days, some of us many more, in which to separate out our paper, plastic, glass and more. Isn’t it all just a big hassle? Doesn’t it take a whole lot of energy to recycle things? Why bother?
Throw it away! Where is away?
For generations now we’ve been ’throwing away’ things week after week, but the trouble is, there is no ’away’. ‘Away’ is a huge hole in the ground, a landfill site, and these are filling up fast. Councils are struggling to get planning permission for more because nobody wants to live near to a landfill site...yet we all want to be able to throw things away!
As our rubbish biodegrades it produce carbon dioxide and methane , which both contribute to climate change. It also produces toxic ‘leachate’ which seeps into the groundwater and is closely linked to some birth defects. Do we really want to contribute to these issues?
Are we good stewards of the earth?
The bible is very clear that it is God’s world, not ours (Psalms 24:1; 50:10-11) and that we are permitted to use and enjoy creation as its tenants (Leviticus 25:23) and caretakers (Genesis 2:15). Using up finite resources and burying them in the earth doesn’t seem to be following God’s word!
So, is recycling the answer?
Recycling saves energy, saves natural resources and reduces the rate at which we fill up landfill sites. However, in the UK our waste is still increasing, despite increasing recycling rates. The real problem is, we are buying more and more and throwing more and more of it away. Recycling CAN help, but it isn’t the only answer...
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