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Energy expended in recycling

  • 11-08-2007 1:26pm
    #1
    nobodythere
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,349 ✭✭✭


    Just wondering,

    has there been any study done to say how much energy is used in recycling something vs how much is used producing it.

    Was just thinking about it as I was out at the Waste center, drove out in a van with a trailer, and the place is full of diggers shovelling stuff.


Comments

  • #2
    juddd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 100 ✭✭juddd


    As far as I know nothing is actually reclycled here, it is just sorted and shipped to foreign countries.
    Which if true is an absolute joke.

    But im sure the government will attract in some foreign company to make new products from recycled waste instead of giving it to an irish company, as we all know the irish government just loves givin hand outs to foreign companies instead of irish ones.


  • #3
    Saruman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,389 ✭✭✭✭Saruman


    I do not think much is recycled here, as juddd said. We do not have the right facilities.

    At the end of the day though, recycling is not about reducing energy use. Thats only part of it. Its about not being wastefull. Its about reducing the natural resources we consume. Its possible in the end we might use a little more energy in the recycling than even making materials new.. however its better to reuse the waste rather than leave the waste and make more letting it pile up in landfills.

    Eventually energy will be less of a problem when more energy efficiant processes are developed, or allowed to be used and developed. Remember big business like oil companies control a lot of governments around the world and they do not like the idea of energy efficiency. Just like drug companies do not like the idea of actual cures, instead opting for drugs to lessen symptoms.

    Its all about the money.


  • #4
    Grudaire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,620 ✭✭✭Grudaire


    grasshopa wrote:
    has there been any study done to say how much energy is used in recycling something vs how much is used producing it.

    Getting back to the question, I think studies have been done, and the reason that recycling isn't as favoured as an option by business's is that it costs more- ie it uses more energy.

    But the principle aim of recycling is to reduce waste, and to stop pollution by reducing waste.


  • #5
    Húrin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    Cliste wrote:
    Getting back to the question, I think studies have been done, and the reason that recycling isn't as favoured as an option by business's is that it costs more- ie it uses more energy.

    But the principle aim of recycling is to reduce waste, and to stop pollution by reducing waste.
    To my knowledge, paper and garden/foodwaste are recycled here. Glass, tetra packs and cans are shipped to the UK and batteries are shipped to Germany for recycling. which is why it's better to use rechargeable batteries, or even better again not to use them at all.


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