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Denise M. Taylor
Professor Joyce Barnes
English 1201 Online
17 March 2019
Annotated Bibliography

While doing research for this essay I encountered many questions. For example, where does all

our waste go? Among the trash that is collected, there are four ways to dispose of it: through

recycling, being incinerated, dumping it into a landfill, or exporting it. My essay will help

determine whether the United States should mandate recycling.

Albeck-Ripka, Livia. “Your Recycling Gets Recycled, Right? Maybe, or Maybe Not.” The New

York Times, 29 May 2018.

Albeck-Ripka, author of the article “Your Recycling Gets Recycled, Right? Maybe, or

Maybe Not.” is a writer for The New York Times Climate and Environment desk. Albeck-Ripka

wrote this article to inform people about the mounds of recyclables that were once being

transported to China for processing, are now being refused due to not meeting China’s new

standards. Since the beginning of this year, when China’s new rule went into effect, many trash

companies began dumping those recyclables into landfills. Her article proves that the only way

to know for sure that recyclables are being recycled, is to make recycling mandatory. The New

York times is a well-known newspaper and the author writes about the climate and the

environment which makes her knowledgeable on the subject and creditable.

Decker, Edwin. "Recycling Is a Waste of Time, Money, and Energy." What Is the Impact of

Green Practices?, edited by Tamara Thompson, Greenhaven Press, 2016. At Issue.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

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http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010970204/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid

=8376556f. Accessed 15 Mar. 2019. Originally published as "Why Recycling Is a Waste

of Money, Time and Energy," sdcitybeat.com, 8 Jan. 2013.

Decker is a journalist for City Beat newsweekly in San Diego and a well-known podcaster.

He is not a fan of recycling and says it cost more money to recycle than the use of landfills for

the disposal of waste. He also, claims that it is unnecessary and is just a way for people to feel

good. I will use this source as my opposing viewpoint.

"Landfill." Environmental Encyclopedia, edited by Deirdre S. Blanchfield, Gale, 2011.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CV2644150788/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=1afc2

51f. Accessed 10 Mar. 2019.

The Environmental Encyclopedia written for Gale; a Cengage Company has been writing

books for over six decades. "Landfill" was updated August 25, 2017. The main source of disposing

of waste is putting it into a landfill. Which is about 54 percent of the waste that is collected each

year. Landfills have been known for adulteration of land and groundwater caused from run off and

leakage. Due to stricter regulations, it is becoming harder to acquire acceptable areas for building

new landfills. Since this source is an encyclopedia from an established company makes to a

creditable source.

Leeson, Craig, director. A Plastic Ocean. 2016. Netflix, www.netflix.com

The documentary A Plastic Ocean was produced and directed by Leeson and aired on Netflix in

2016. He made this documentary to inform people about the massive amounts of plastic floating

in our oceans. It is not only polluting the water, but also killing birds and marine life. Leeson is
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also a third-generation journalist and won two awards for his documentary. I chose the source

because he is not only very knowledgeable, but also reputable.

Parker, Laura. “A Whopping 91% of Plastic Isn't Recycled.” National Geographic, National

Geographic Society, 20 Dec. 2018, news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/plastic-

produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/.

Parker stated the 3.8 billion metric tons of plastic has been produced over the sixty years and that

it takes more than 400 hundred years to break down. She continues to describe what will happen

if people do not take a stance and start taking care of the amounts of plastic being discarded

instead of recycled. Parker writes about climate change and marine environments for the world

wide known nonprofit organization, the National Geographic. This creditable source explains the

importance of recycling.

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 16 Nov. 2018,

www.epa.gov/recycle. Accessed 24 Feb. 2019.

The Environmental Protection Agency is an agency in the federal government of the

United States. The EPA main purpose is to protect the human health and our environment and

became into effect in 1970. This source offers valuable information including statistics and facts

that will help my argument. Being an affiant of the government makes the EPA a creditable

source.

"Solid waste incineration." Environmental Encyclopedia, edited by Deirdre S. Blanchfield, Gale,

2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CV2644151289/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xi

d=9a0e0406. Accessed 15 Mar. 2019.

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The Environmental Encyclopedia written for Gale; a Cengage Company has been writing

books for over six decades. "Solid waste incineration" was updated August 25, 2017. There are

135 waste incineration facilities in the United States. They burn around 15 percent of waste

produced each year. These plants are very expensive, costing around $400 million dollars. They

cause air pollution and contaminate ground water. The ash that is left after the trash is burned is

then put into a landfill. This source supports the benefits of recycling because then there would

be less waste to incinerate. Also, the leftover ash would not be contributing to landfill use. Since

this source is an encyclopedia from an established company makes to a creditable source.

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics
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http://www.ecozine.com/article/review-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%98a-plastic-

ocean%E2%80%99