Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only way to increase recycling is for government to make it a legal requirement. To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?

Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only way to increase recycling is for government to make it a legal requirement. To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?

Environmental protection is of great importance nowadays. As a good way to reduce waste, recycling is considered to be not effectively implemented. It is advised to make it a law, but I think there are more appropriate ways to achieve the aim.

Law is compulsory, which means that the anticipated effect would be satisfactory. To avoid being against the law, people and other organizations have to obey the detailed regulation of reusing their waste. Or governments might fine individuals or companies for not doing their duty. People would be amazed by the result of recycling in a short run. This, however, is not equal to the actual improvement of people’s recycling awareness. In other words, citizens would still be unwilling or reluctant to take this action when the government did not continue to monitor them so closely.

In order that recycling can be a spontaneous and long-term habit, other methods are worth trying. On one hand, running campaigns can be a good choice. Individuals gradually pay attention to the benefit of reusing the objects which they would like to throw away through the various advertisements and documentaries in TV, radio and the Internet. Besides, rewards are also stimulating. For instance, people would gain different gifts for the amount of waste they recycle. Their interest can be activated and they become willing to do it daily. Both these two ways encourage individuals to recycle instead of forcing them.

In a word, although making a recycling regulation can be a quick solution, its cost is huge and short-run. In my view, it is advisable to evoke people’s own willingness by appealing activities and presents.