Recycling Annotated Bibliography
Frank Ackerman is the current director of the Climate Economics Group (CEG), a research team based at the Stockholm Environment institute at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. The group raises awareness on climate change issues. Ackerman is a renowned economist who specializes with issues of economics of climate change and other environmental aspects, and a leading critic of the conventional economic attitudes towards climate change policy. He has published works on economics and climate change for policy, academic, and general audience. In this book, Ackerman brings in a different angle of economic implications of recycling. The book points out that the reasons for recycling have changed from economical to and environment oriented. Using various examples the author shows that although recycling may not be profitable in the short-term it is a necessary response to the long term environmental implications which cannot be described in economical terms. On policy proposal designs, Ackerman shows the effects of market incentives for recycling and waste reduction as well as situations where recycling is not possible.
The book ties together recycling, environment protection, policy, and economics. It provides information on regularly ignored interrelationships. The link and the use of little known research findings broaden the theoretical concepts regarding recycling, environment, economy, and legislation. It is also highly valuable for examining the role of environmental policies and their limitations in the market.
McDonough, William and Michael Braungart. Cradle to Cradle Remaking the way we Make Things. New York, NY North Point Press, 2002.
William McDonough is an internationally renowned architect and founding principal of William McDonough and Partners, Architecture and Community Design. He has known for his environmentally sound designs and has been awarded several awards for his efforts in sustainable development.
Michael Braungart is a former activist German professor of process engineering and an advocate for positive ecological footprint. Together, they have been recognized as the Heroes of the Environment by Times Magazine. The book basically calls for a change of the human industries through the use of ecologically intelligent designs. The book argues that the current human industry is based on take, make, and waste a problem that can be solved by intelligent use of natural systems. The authors analyze the industrial revolution and with the use of scientific, natural and social commentaries with the support of description of design principles and persuasive models with positive impacts, the authors show that the human industry can be transformed from cradle to the grave to cradle to cradle.
The book offers an insight into the possible ways in which the current manufacturing industry can play a bigger role in recycling. The view of the authors may be the way into the future where products will be manufactured not only for a particular purpose but a wider range of possible uses, hence increasing its possibility for recycling. The proposal for integration of industry and nature opens up some slightly explored beneficial interrelationships between commerce and nature and provides a road map for potential prosperity and sustainable production.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Improving Recycling Markets. Paris OECD Publishing, 2006
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is comprised of 30 member countries and other non-members who act as observers. The organization deals with economic, social, and environmental issues and operates by compelling formulation and implementation of policies. The report focuses on the market for potential recycled materials. It puts more emphasis on the markets for waste petroleum products, plastics, and used tires. In the report, OECD illustrates the expansion of recyclable material markets. The organization goes further and identifies market failures and barriers that are hindering the growth and expansion of some markets. Some of the failures and barriers identified in the report include quality, quantity, and information failures among others. The report offers solution to overcome the failures in form of industrial policies to support the existing traditional policies. The report basically puts an argument that policy incentives will expand the markets for recycled material
The OECD report is a good example on the status and potential of the markets for recycled materials. The reports solution of instituting industrial policies to compliment the existing ones is an option that has the potential to expand the market. The report offers insight into the commonly ignored aspect of recycled materials marketing. The policy incentives proposed in the report can be able to promote recycling especially in the OECD country members who form the bulk of the global industrial manufacture. The report is highly valuable in policy analysis with regard to manufacturing, recycling, and trade in recycled material.
Grossman, Elizabeth. Toxic Recycling. The Nation. 7 November, 2005. 26 April 2010. httpwww.ban.orgban_news2005051107_toxic_recycling.html.
Elizabeth Grossman is an environmental journalist who had done extensive works on the environmental issues. Most of her work is on electronic and technological wastes. She has done extensive work on the impacts of the electronic and high-tech wastes on the environment and human health. In this article, she highlights the health hazard brought about improper disposal and handling of electronic and high-tech waste in the United States and in the world. In the article, she identifies some chemicals found in electrical waste. Some of the chemicals identified are mercury, lead, cadmium, and barium all of which are harmful to plants, animals, and human life. The author uncovers the dangers that inmates from Atwater Federal Penitentiary are exposed to while recycling electrical appliances for UNICOR and through exportation of the electronic waste particularly to the developing countries. The article brings out the contradiction brought about by digital age. She points out that digital age was supposed to bring in cleaner production but is now posing a serious threat as a source of health hazard and environmental degradation.
The report is highly relevant in exploring the threats posed by recycling. Electronic equipments are manufactured using chemicals that are highly toxic to plants, animals, and humans. In the race to comply with recycling and environmental policies, and ensure sustainable production, many corporate organizations are overlooking the dangers posed to people and the environment during recycling of electronic waste. The article therefore functions to remind people of the dangers that come with the need for recycling and reusing.
Rhyner, Charles. Waste Management and Resource Recovery. Parkway, NW CRC Press, 1995.
Charles Rhyner is a professor of physics at the University Of Wisconsin. He is an expert in solid waste management and has undertaken extensive research and published in the area of solid waste management. He has also served in various capacities in the local and state solid waste organizations. In the past five years, Rhyner has taught Waste Management and Resource Recovery at the University of Wisconsin. The book addresses waste management issues that are faced within the society. In the book, the author portrays the processes of waste disposal and dispersal in the environment. It also touches on the technical and environmental principles followed in waste disposal. In addition, the book tackles some social, economical, legal, and political aspects of waste disposal. The book highlights the step by step process that is followed in recycling of various materials such as paper, wood, plastics, metals, and rubber. More importantly, the author addresses recycling as a way of energy and resource recovery. The importance and roles of the government and other institutions with respect to waste management and resource recovery is highlighted within the book.
This book is especially important in understanding the reasons behind recycling. Recycling is done for various reasons. However, the ultimate reason for recycling is often forgotten. The book reminds us that recycling is meant to recover and reutilize the scarce resources that we have. The book is useful for analysis of the recycling process for various materials as well as the reincorporation of the recycled material back into manufacturing process.
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