Restoration of Ecosystem: A “Recycling”

perspective

Mahima Chakraborty
1st year student
Department of Management
Institute of Engineering and Management
Kolkata, India
mahima.science632@gmail.com

Abstract— Ecosystem Restoration is the
process of giving rebirth to the ecosystem,
which is degraded and damaged in the flow
of time by human activities. The ecosystem
is linked is such a way that the impact of any
degradation or damage in the environment
directly or indirectly affects the whole
ecosystem. So to protect the environment,
recycling can be done to lessen toxicity of
the wastes. The success in science and
technology has helped us to think beyond
the box and be independent from all the pre-
stated rules. Thus by inventing the
alternatives from the wastes and recycling it
by holding the hands of science, the whole
ecosystem can be protected.
Keywords— Recycling, Ecosystem,
Lifestyle Adjustment, Science, Restoration
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Ecosystem Restoration:
The Restoration of Ecosystem means
guiding the ecosystem to recover from the
degraded or destroyed stage, as well as
preserving the ecosystems that are still
intact.
Restoration can be done by removing
pressures so that nature could recover on its
own. It is not possible to recover an
ecosystem to its original state but its life can
be extended by adopting recycling process.
B. Recycling:
Recycling recovers the energy from waste
materials and converts into new useable
materials. Recycling is the key component
of waste management. Recyclability of
waste material depends on-
❖ Its ability to reacquire the properties it
had in its original state, or
❖ The ability to perform decomposition to
reuse it.
II. OBJECTIVES
➢ Changing the laissez-faire attitude of the
common people towards the battle
against pollution.
2 Restoration of Ecosystem: A “Recycling” perspective
➢ Encouraging peoples to think on
environmental crisis and issues created
by the wastes.
➢ Restoration of Ecosystem by removal,
storage, and replacement with technical
and scientific innovations.
➢ Planning for recycling the wastes
materials and dumping the unrecyclable
wastes in safest place.
III. ANALYSIS
A. Types of Recycling:
1. Household Waste Recycling:
Recycling and composting of household
waste is a way of reducing domestic waste
sent to landfill.
➢ Dry Waste Recycling:
Dry recyclable waste includes pet bottles,
glass bottles, plastic carry bags, shoes, tires,
plastic cutlery, cardboard, newspapers etc.
➢ Wet Waste Recycling:
It refers to all such items that are organic
like fruit peels, leftovers, vegetable skins,
uncooked food as well as any other soiled
item that would contaminate the recyclables.
2. Industrial Waste Recycling:
The industrial waste recycling includes
transportation, processing, and reselling.
➢ E-Waste Recycling:
E-waste or Electronic wastes are Fridge,
television, microwave, computer, cables,
chargers, gadgets like laptops and phones
etc. These e-wastes can be recycled and
reused by segregating the parts.
➢ Plastic Recycling:
❖ Physical recycling: Plastics are melted
and new plastic products are formed.
❖ Chemical recycling: Polymers are
converted back into monomers.
B. Involvement of Science in Recycling:
Science and technology has a great impact
on the ecosystem both positively and
negatively.
The success in science and technology has
enabled individuals innovate things in a new
way which changes all the stereotypic
thoughts. Science helps in inventing the
alternatives of the wastes by recycling it to a
new material.
C. Role of Recycling in Ecosystem
Restoration:
➢ Recycling has the potential to be an
essential strategy for sustainability in
long run.
➢ Recycling enhances the productivity and
health of the ecosystems.
➢ Recycling reduces pollutants and
detoxifies waste which provides benefits
to human health.
➢ Recycling of paper and other forest
products restores forest.
➢ Recycling of biological wastes through
organic farming methods helps to restore
the organic matter of soils.
➢ Recycling reduces carbon release into
the atmosphere, increase carbon
sequestration in forest and soil, and thus
helps to mitigate the threat of global
climate change.
IV. METHODOLOGY
A. Approaches:
Descriptive Approach
B. Research Design:
A well-structured Questionnaire is framed in
Google Forms.
C. Data Sources:
Primary Data – Interactions, Observations,
Online Google Survey Questionnaires
Secondary Data –Website, Articles
D. Data Collection Method:
3 Restoration of Ecosystem: A “Recycling” perspective

Survey Method through Google Forms 4. How you recycle your household waste?
E. Sample Type:
Non-probability sampling Compositing
F. Sampling Technique:
Convenience sampling technique
15% Reusing the
G. Research Tools:
Newspaper
Multiple Choice Questions
15% 50%
H. Statistical Methods Used: Build Eco-
Percentage Analysis bricks
20%
I. Statistical Tools Used:
Replacing
Graphs (Column & Bar) single use
J. Sample Size: plastic items
300 individuals including teachers, students,
housewives etc
VI. FINDINGS
V. DATA ANALYSIS
➢ Most of the participant knows about
1. Do you know about Recycling of Wastes?
recycling of wastes materials.
➢ Due to illiteracy some of the participants
No 20% did not segregate their dry and wet waste
for recycling.
Yes 80%
➢ Most of the participants agree that
0% 50% 100% recycling has the potential to enhance
the ecological restoration.
➢ Half of the total participant recycles their
2. Do you segregate your dry and wet
waste by compositing.
household wastes for recycling?
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS

65%
A. Lifestyle Adjustment:
100%
35% The adjustment should be done by changing
the habit of traditional waste handling
0% behaviour.
Yes No
B. Segregating dry and wet waste:
3. Do you think recycling has the potential Wet waste can be kept in the composite bins
to enhance the ecological restoration? to convert it into natural fertilizers and dry
wastes like plastic bottles can be used to
make Eco-bricks, which reduce the landfills.
Disagree 5% C. Adopting the reusing Behaviour:
Wastes such as newspapers, plastic bottles,
Agree 95%
aluminum foils etc can be reused.
0% 50% 100%
D. Replacing single use plastic items:
4 Restoration of Ecosystem: A “Recycling” perspective
Single-use plastic items create negative
impact on the ecosystem. So, peoples should
shift to the alternatives like wood, paper,
cotton etc items.
E. Change in Perception:
VIII. CONCLUSION
People, plants and animals depend on
healthy ecosystems. Our daily lives and
luxuries would not be possible without their
recourses and services.
So to live in a healthier ecosystem some
steps should be taken to restore the degraded
and polluted resources. Recycling has the
potential to enhance the ecological
The thoughts on the statement -‘Ecological
awareness is true spirituality to live a
healthy life’ should be promoted.
restoration. Recycling reduces wastes and
converts them into natural resources and
protects natural ecosystems, moreover
encourages biological diversity.
IX. REFERENCE
[1] Ecological Restoration by Andre F.
Clewell & James Aronson.
[2]Article by John Ikerd on Recycling for
Sustainability, Prepared for presentation at
Missouri Recycling Association workshop,
Kansas City, MO, July 5, 2007 and
WasteCap Nebraska, Annual Meeting,
Lincoln, NE, October 23, 2007.