Recycling can be too much of a good thing

In the real world, it carries costs that are often overlooked

Staff at a SembWaste facility in Tuas picking out recyclable objects from trash. Recycling carries costs that are often overlooked, says the writer. For example, recycling paper could cause more severe water pollution or soil contamination as the rem
Staff at a SembWaste facility in Tuas picking out recyclable objects from trash. Recycling carries costs that are often overlooked, says the writer. For example, recycling paper could cause more severe water pollution or soil contamination as the removal of ink from paper requires harsh chemical treatment, with the resultant sludge needing to be disposed of somehow. ST FILE PHOTO
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Tomorrow marks the inaugural Global Recycling Day, an occasion that offers an opportunity to look at the complexities and challenges involved in making the best use of the world's resources.

Global Recycling Day is an initiative of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), an industry association representing over 700 companies from the private sector and 40 national trade federations from 70 different countries.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 17, 2018, with the headline Recycling can be too much of a good thing. Subscribe