You know when you walk down the street, drinking your soda or bottled water; as you throw the bottle in the trash, did you notice how many items in the trash are recyclable. Current reports show that about 80% of the garbage thrown away is recyclable. Recycling is the third “R” of the three “Rs”: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Recycling is defined as taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to create another product. According to Ivanhoe Broadcast News, each year the average American family throws away 2,460 pounds of paper, 540 pounds of metals, 480 pounds of glass and 480 pounds of food scraps. Bottom line, the average American throws away more than 1,200 pounds of trash per year, far more than people in most other countries. Personally I think it's ridiculous how unaware and careless people are that they can't throw an item into a different container, so it can be recycled. To some extent it's not just the audience's fault; I personally believe that the government should set itself up and take control of the situation. Instead of sitting back while the world becomes more and more polluted. I believe there are many ways we can improve this system. For example: Technology and electronics are a huge part of our culture and society. The “fast” nature of technology creates products that become obsolete very quickly. Electronic components that do not contain lead or mercury are widely recyclable. However, instead of recycling, people simply throw these items away, without thinking... middle of paper... anything to help, we as a nation must step up and support the cause. It's our future, so we need to make something out of it. Words Cited Goodwill Statistics: http://www.wheremostneeded.org/2007/06/corprate_thinki.htmlBy “blog”Broadcast News, Ivanhoe. “Reusing and recycling is beneficial.” News 8 Austin August 06, 2006. Cell Phone Statistics: http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/forums/cell_phone_culture.htm By James Katz Aluminum Statistics: http://www.chymist.com/alum .pdf By David A. KatzOrganic materials statistics: http://www.co.allen.in.us/images/stories/Purdue%20CES/Horticulture/ach125.pdfBy Allen E. Boger