Rhetorical Analysis First Draft

Truman Crapo
It’s called, “The Reign of Recycling”, written by John Tierney. Written for those who
may not understand the full concept of recycling and how it effects our earth. It was published to
The New York Times on October 3, 2015. He has written articles before about recycling and its
effectiveness but more importantly he stresses the cost-effectiveness of recycling.
While reflecting back on the past years, John must have felt some motive to write once
more about recycling. The article begins talking about a past article that he had written in 1996.
It was about the new recycling processes being put in place. He wrote about how these new
processes were never going to solve anything and he was told that he needed wait until more
time had passed in order have a concrete opinion about it. Through this article he talks about how
recycling became popular and why. He brings in many statistics about how much waste we
produce and how it seems to be impossible to catch up on reducing our carbon foot print. He
even talks about how landfills are creating some positive things out of something that for many
people leave a bad taste in their mouth. Landfills are able to capture the methane gas which is
then able generate electricity. So, whether you are feeling that recycling is the right for you or
you want to know more, then this article is for you.
John Tierney in his article, “The Reign of Recycling”, presents his material adhering to
both ethos and logos. He uses statistical information, quotes from waste management
organizations, and researcher’s information. It does very well in its effectiveness to appeal to
those who want to see the outcomes of their efforts. If you do something that you think is
morally right, then you read an article that says all of what you do is “good”. Then it says your
efforts don’t actually affect the environment. It takes a big effect on an individual who is
passionate about it.
First, we will talk about his use of logos with the figures he presented. J. Winston Porter
an E.P.A. official “advised state officials that no more than 35 percent of the nation’s trash is
worth recycling”, they proceeded to disregard what he said and set a goal of more than 50
percent. In my opinion, when readers read this it will help them realize that John is exploiting
elected officials. They are using those who are driven by being environmentally friendly and
disregarding hard stats to gain a following. Which can also adhere to pathos because it can make
you feel a certain way knowing this. Many public officials promote being pro-earth because it is
popular among those who may not know the actual cost of recycling. John writes, “Prices for
recyclable materials has plummeted…. The slump has forced some recycling companies to shut
plants and cancel plan for new technologies.” For me, when John provides facts and figures to
supply the article with reasoning it relates directly to pathos. People want to see that what they
are devoted to is paying off. So, when they see that it’s the opposite and that are being used, it
can be hard so see that none of the goals of the city officials were met.
John Tierney quotes David P. Steiner saying, “If you believe recycling is good for the
planet and that we need to do more of it, then there is a crisis to confront.” David P. Steiner is the
CEO of Waste Management, the largest recycler in the United States for household waste.
Mentioning this quote was important for John Tierney, the quote being from someone else
besides himself helps his argument. This provides ethos to his claim. This quote as well as others
are able to keep the flow of eventually telling everyone that recycling is pointless.
In the article, Mayor de Blasio talks about how sending waste to a landfill is “ludicrous
and outdated” and that his goal is that for New York City to become “a truly sustainable city.”
John Tierney commented before this quote that a zero-waste city would take massive amount of
garbage police. Reading this makes me think that he must have had some humor behind the
thought of garbage police trolling the city. The emotions that coming from John Tierney range
Rhetorical Analysis First Draft
Truman Crapo
from being solemn to might I even say a little humor. He quickly offers his rebuttal to this
statement by the mayor of New York City. He sums up his opinion by being very clear and
concise. “…cities have been burying garbage for thousands of years, and it’s still the easiest and
cheapest solution for trash…. How can you build a sustainable city with a strategy that can’t
even sustain itself?” His rebuttal and final paragraph of the article lays out his whole opinion
toward all that he talked about.
The article clearly identifies both sides of the crisis. He does so well at applying each
rhetorical theme. At first, I was unsure of how he applied pathos, then as time passed, I realized
that the emotions that I was feeling were because of how he presented the themes of ethos and
logos. Especially when he exploited the public officials for disregarding E.P.A. officials. Elected
officials set a goal for above 50 percent of recycled waste, when those at the E.P.A. suggested
that nothing above 35 percent is possible. John Tierney informs us that the processes and plans
that cities are taking to reduce their carbon foot prints is pointless. For those whose moral
compass says to recycle, that is all fine, but Tierney is here to help all to realize that recycling is
not cost effective. There are so many variables that go into the step-by-step process of recycling.
John Tierney should have changed the readers viewpoint while reading this article, the reader
will have to take time to have a deeper look into their own efforts of recycling and whether or
not continuing is effective or not. John Tierney did a very good job at convincing and providing
readers with correct information.