Recycling- the biggest resource to fight Climate Change ‘Global Recycling Day’ – 18 March 24

The’ Global Recycling Day’ is celebrated every year on 18 March. This year the theme is ‘Recycling Heroes’ which means celebrating people and their initiatives which are promoting recycling.   

Our mother earth is shedding out natural resources faster than ever before and the day may not be far away when we might run out of these resources. Water, minerals, oil, coal, gas, metals and others are primary resources under threat, Rapid economic progress and urbanization leading to increased consumption is adding to this challenge which has grown to humongous proportions. Whatever is consumed if thrown away is adding to the mountains of waste.  The current state of dumping and accumulating waste is not helping anybody. It is affecting natural habitats, animals and human activities and livelihood.

The temperatures are increasing, icecaps are melting faster than we ever thought, forest fires are becoming a new reality and weathers are getting more extreme. Our Planet is in a situation of high concern and our lives and future will be determined by how we react and pro-act on the rising challenge of Climate Change.

Are we at a point of no return? Has the damage been already done? is the question asked by many. Not really, a collective effort can resurrect many things and bring in a lot of hope.

Recycling is one of the most important elements in the sustainable development goals. This has led to a lot of awareness and businesses and governments across the globe have become more proactive. However, an Individual effort is what will be the key to making recycling a success. This is because we consume everything as individuals, be it clothes, food wrappers, household items, gadgets, utility products etc. Waste is no more something that has to be thrown away, it is a resource that has to be collected properly, processed and out back into the mainstream of utility. If individuals become aware of the current situation, they will consume with responsibility, opt for more recycled and environmentally friendly products and thereby reduce the ever-growing burden on natural resources many of which might not exist in near future. Apart from responsible consumption and opting for recycled products, simple things like segregating waste at home, composting kitchen waste and donating e-waste to authorized vendors will go a long way in getting in a sustainable cycle thereby securing our planet. This will mean every individual; every citizen becomes a ‘recycling hero’. This will make The theme ‘Recycling Heroes’ a success in a real sense!