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Recycling waste... - Vocabulary - English lesson

In our consumer society,  we buy and buy, consume, throw away, buy again, and  do

it endlessly...  

Of course, the problem of the excessive use of paper, for office work, but to make

newspapers and magazines, is acute. More serious still is that of the containers: cans, 

plastic and glass bottles, blisters and cardboard boxes are invading our landscapes. 

Plastic bags, then paper bags, given as much as we want - and more - abandoned 

everywhere, fly away in the wind and pollute our countryside and our oceans.  

A new awareness has seized a part of the world's population. More and more countries

are making real efforts to sort and recycle, with very unequal awareness and reactions 

depending on the different countries. 

1) Plastic: has seduced us because it's so handy...  Used once, this plastic is disposed 

of because it is disposable. Little by little (very slowly), we started sorting, and now, at

last, we collect and recycle the plastic which is, in fact very expensive for us, not only in

terms of money, but also in terms of the destruction of wildlife and of the environment. 

These pieces of plastic are used to make new bottles and even to make 

new textiles, sportshoes, useful and sturdy items... 

2) Aluminium: Aluminium cans: 

The cans containing beer, sparkling water and sodas are collected, washed,

shredded and melted in order to make other cans (of the same excellent

quality) which can be reused indefinitely but also other metallic objects (bicycles, 

scooters etc.)

3) Paper, cardboard: 

Tons and tons of paper have been and are still used as if the trees to make paper

were  an inexhaustible resource: they're not! Part of the world understood and realised 

the disastrous consequences of deforestation where the forest is fundamental to 

'our planet's breath'.

The development of digital technology must help reduce the 'paper-based civilisation'.

Now, recycling paper and cardboard is well under way. These materials can be  

recycled several times without losing quality.  

Once again, correct sorting is fundamental. 

                                                                                   Bales of shredded paper

The paper is sorted, shredded, and compressed into huge bales, then sent to different 

specialised plants. 

It will be soaked, turned into a kind of mixture which will then be cleaned, bleached, 

purified, dried and then shaped, depending on the next expected use. 

R&D Departments (Research & Development) are now working hard and tend towards 

'A sustainable paper Industry' which will be 'Green Paper'. 

4) Textiles and clothing: 

The clothes that are too small or well-worn may be given to the younger ones or to cousins

depending on their condition, they may be sold in second-hand stores so as to be reused

by others... If not, they can be given to charities. These clothes are much needed for poor

people and homeless people. They are 'sold' at a symbolic price. When they are really worn

out, clothes can be given and recycled to make new materials. 

[second-hand: already worn by another person]

5) Glass: 

Many years ago, milk was sold out of individual metallic 'milk pots', then out of glass bottles (with

a few cents' deposit.) and finally now, it's sold either in plastic bottles or in cartons. 

Glass is collected in very big containers; then it is crushed, ground. Afterwards, it is sorted, (depending

on its colour (transparent, green or brown), and cleaned (to remove remaining parts of plastic, paper

and possible stones, etc.) Then, the sorted cullets are transported to plants where they will be heated

to 1,400 degrees, turned into a sort of paste of glass which will then be shaped, depending on the next

expected use. 

6) Computers and electronic appliances:

Electrical and electronic items contain different toxic substances. When dealt with in

proper recycling centers, these waste go under huge and powerful magnets, in order

to separate metal elements (some precious metals are kept) and plastic ones which will

then be recycled. Batteries are treated separately and crushed by powerful high-speed

hammers, then shredded. 

7 ) Organic waste:

They are biodegradable waste coming from living organisms (microorganisms, plants and animals).

This can include food scraps, leaves, and other plant matter.   Around two-thirds of all the organic

waste produced comes from households. Agricultural waste and restaurants across the globe are

also significant producers. All these matters are fermenting and finally giving compost, manure etc.

This process increases the fertility of the soils and help decrease the overall carbon footprint.

  The (green) recycling loop : 3 steps, 3 arrows...

- The VIRTUOUS CIRCLE of the 3Rs: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE...

Thus, we are facing an unrelenting dilemma. Either we go on consuming left, right and center, or

we really start making efforts to reduce our consumption, and most of all learn how to consume better. 

1) REDUCE our consumption: we should only buy what we need. 

- we should use electricity and water better (turn off switches and taps as soon as possible - use LED bulbs)

- regulate the temperature of our heating in winter and air-conditioning in summer. We will use bicycles

to travel short distances, or will walk more often.  

2) REUSE:

- Use second-hand and local distribution networks.

- We should own our shopping bags (material tote-bags), our own containers in glass, reuse plates

and cutlery and wash them. 

3) RECYCLE:  

Importance of knowing where to find good recycling containers, and use them as much, and as well

as possible. 

A FEW KEY PHRASES:

- To cut down on waste

- To reduce the amount of waste

- To convert waste materials into new materials

- The recycling loop

- Help cut down on waste

Even if we do all this, it will be difficult for our Planet to offer our children and grand-children 

a place where it will be good to live, where everyone can take advantage of ressources,

where global warming will remain bearable everywhere.

If, selfishly, we don't do this, it is still difficult to imagine what the damage will be and what

the populations will have to bear... 

Let's not weaken... Our children and grand-children are counting on us...

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1. The dream of a waste-free world is still far away, but consumers have now understood the need to shredcollectburnI don't know waste.



2. Crushed cans are baled uppackedshreddedI don't know into compressed cubes and sent to a recycling plant.



3. After collecting plastic, it is sorted and cleaned, then torngroundpulpedI don't know before creating new plastic products.



4. When computers are recycled, cables are unplugged and torndisposed ofmeltedI don't know.



5. Every ton of glass disposed ofmeltedtornI don't know in the recycling process prevents the production of a lot of Carbon Dioxide.



6. Industrial paper shreddingtearingpulpingI don't know is a crucial process in the paper and recycling industry.



7. Proper maturation and storage of organic waste provides, a paper pulpdumpstercompostI don't know of high quality.



8. Let's hope everybody can use second-hand clothesconsume and throw awayreduce, reuse, recycleI don't know,thus starting a real rescue of our Earth for the sake of mankind.



9. If we don't want trillions of plastic pieces to end up in landfillsdumpstersbalesI don't know and in the ocean, we must take care of the planet.



10. New investments and collective effort will help us buy second hand goodswith biodegradable wastecut down on wasteI don't know and make our planet cleaner for our grand-children.