More than 600 million tons of recyclable materials are handled by almost 2 million people around the world each year (BIR). This is the result of ever-increasing concern about waste and CO2 emissions across the world. Recycling is a controversial topic as many have learned that recycling is the most effective way to reduce environmental impact. However, according to the New York Times, "recycling is perhaps the most wasteful activity in modern America: a waste of time and money, a waste of human and natural resources." (Tierney). Recycling can actually be a way for people to feel vindicated about overusing products. This can lead to a rapid increase in consumerism. In some cases, recycling can be effective, but studies have shown that more fossil fuels are burned to recycle plastic than to produce new plastic products. This is also the case for many other materials. Millions of dollars in net loss are spent each year on worker wages and gasoline used to fuel the transportation of recyclables. Many people everywhere recycle because they were told it was good, but they were not informed about the negative aspects (Tierney). Although recycling some materials is beneficial by saving energy and waste, other materials, such as plastic and paper, cost more in energy consumed to recycle; Therefore, reducing and reusing is a more practical and cost-effective way to reduce waste and energy. Reduce, reuse and recycle is something people all over the world are told at school and also as adults. Recycling, or converting waste into reusable materials, is used around the world in hopes of ridding the Earth of some of our waste. Reducing, or bringing in a smaller amount, is the most effective way to reduce waste, but because of the mod...... middle of paper ......nnesota Pollution Control Agency. Internet. May 19, 2014. “Reuse vs. Recycle.” The most environmentally friendly way to recycle ink cartridges. Evolve, 2014. Web. May 19, 2014.Sealey, Geraldine. “Is recycling worth the cost?” ABC News. ABC News Network, nd Web. April 6, 2014. “The mayor rethinks recycling. » The New York Times. The New York Times, April 29, 2013. Web. May 19, 2014. Tierney, John. “Recycling is waste.” The New York Times. The New York Times, June 29, 1996. Web. April 6, 2014. Vasiljevic-Shikaleska, Aneta. “Waste management and optimization models towards sustainable waste management systems.” Journal of Sustainable Development (1857-8519) 5.8-9 (2014): 105-123. Commercial source completed. Internet. April 4, 2014. “Who is ReDo? » Who is ReDo. The loading dock. Internet. May 19, 2014. Zeller, Tom. “Why recycle?” High-tech waste. National Geographic Society, January 2008. Web. April 6. 2014.