Essay 13 – Laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste

GT Writing Task 2 (Essay Writing) Sample # 13

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.

To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer 1: [Agreement]
The issue of insufficient household waste recycling has sparked debates, with some asserting that the only effective solution is for governments to enforce recycling through legal requirements. This essay will explain that though voluntary efforts and education can play a role in promoting recycling, the implementation of legislation can provide the necessary framework, motivation, and accountability to ensure widespread participation.

While voluntary efforts to promote recycling have been made, they often fall short in achieving substantial results. Relying solely on individuals’ willingness to recycle without legal obligations can lead to inconsistent practices and a lack of widespread compliance. For instance, many people prioritise convenience and immediate personal benefits over long-term environmental concerns. Therefore, without enforceable laws, it is challenging to achieve the necessary behavioural change and achieve significant increases in recycling rates.

Enacting laws that make recycling a legal requirement can have several positive impacts. Firstly, it establishes a clear framework and standard for waste management, providing consistency and guidance to individuals and businesses. Legal requirements can outline specific recycling practices, define responsibilities, and set penalties for non-compliance. Such measures create a sense of accountability and encourage individuals to actively participate in recycling efforts.

Secondly, laws can incentivise recycling by introducing rewards and benefits for compliance. Governments can implement systems such as recycling rebates, reduced waste management fees, or tax incentives for households that meet or exceed recycling targets. These initiatives not only encourage recycling but also provide tangible benefits to individuals, making recycling a more attractive option.

To conclude, while voluntary efforts and educational campaigns are valuable in promoting recycling, laws play a crucial role in ensuring widespread compliance and achieving significant increases in recycling rates. Legal requirements provide a necessary framework, accountability, and incentives that can effectively motivate individuals to recycle their waste.

Model Answer 2: [Disagreement]
We live in a throwaway society and with the ever-increasing waste production every day, authorities in many countries are already finding it difficult to recycle the litter. Some opine that people do not recycle household trash in proper manners and strict laws are the only way to force citizens to do so. While I wholeheartedly welcome such laws, I do not agree that having laws in place is the only and best solution to curb the issue.

To begin with, complying with garbage management and waste recycling is a choice for many citizens. Even after laws are in place, many citizens already violate them. Tracking those citizens and punishing them is not the main objective, rather educating and encouraging them is a better solution. To do so, the authority can use mass media to educate people. Ordinary people have to realise the catastrophic consequences of their negligence and encouragement can play a better role than the fear of penalty. For instance, Japan, once daunted by the sheer amount of household rubbish, have successfully achieved their goal through public awareness and it can be a model for others.

Furthermore, only punishment cannot motivate people to abide by the rules. Rather a reward system can do the magic. If the counsellors declare that families who properly do waste recycling would get tax rebates and other social benefits, many more people would be inspired. A latest social experiment report published in a Canadian magazine outlines how a community was enviably successful to encourage its people to keep their backyard clean with a simple reward policy.

To conclude, we need to keep our environment clean and properly recycle household debris to save our planet. While proper laws may be a solution to curb it, it is not the best solution. Motivation can better encourage people to do the same thing that fear can not.

Model Answer 3: [Agreement]
With the rapid population explosion and the emergence of the through-away society, waste management has become a major concern for many. Sadly people do not spontaneously participate in garbage recycling and I believe that stringent laws are required to force them to recycle the debris they produce.

To begin with, it is common knowledge that everybody should take part in the waste recycling process to save the environment and keep the surroundings clean. However, the civic sense, advertisements and the government’s initiatives to educate people have failed to encourage citizens, in most cases, to take part in the litter recycling process. People do not need to invest money, work in the recycling process or do anything rather than categorising their own-produced garbage and placing them at a predefined location every day. If they are reluctant to do so, there must be a law to force them.

Moreover, when a law imposes a monetary fine and other types of penalty, ordinary people have a tendency to follow them. For instance, a recent report from the UN shows that more people recycle waste in cities where not doing so imposes fines. There is no denying that inherent nature drives humans to ignore things that are optional and abide by rules that are strict and unavoidable. Waste recycling not only saves the planet from being harmed but also opens the doors to the possibility of producing many new products that are environment-friendly. Stern laws are, therefore, required to achieve good results.

To conclude, for the sake of our own good, we should take waste recycling seriously and introduce laws and legislation that would require people to do so. We should not compromise on acts that would challenge our very existence on Earth.