Junior School Magazine - Edition 6

Y ear 6 P ersuasive E xposition - T rash

The whole world needs a huge clean up and we should start with large trash heaps, such as Behala. Did you know that according to the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance: 72% of trash around the world could have been recycled or reused? This is not ok, especially when you think how much better it would be if the world had 72% less garbage. That is why the whole world needs this big clean up. In poor countries, the trash problem is worse because they cannot afford proper rubbish disposal systems. Therefore, all of their garbage is thrown in a pile for other people to sort through. Now, can you see how important it is that we not only clean up, but also keep it clean? However, how do we clean it up in the first place? The solution might just be in Sweden. In Sweden, they are running a project called the ‘waste to energy’ program. Where they burn their garbage to create thermal energy, which they then convert into electricity to power nearby homes. They have thirty-four of these ‘waste to energy’ plants where they burn 2 million tonnes of their own garbage, as well as importing and burning 2 million tonnes of other countries trash for pay. They make almost $100 million per year with this trade. Therefore, in total Sweden recycles half of their waste and burns 49% meaning Sweden has a 99% recycle rate. Many countries around the world are trying to be like Sweden in fact Australia has four ‘waste to energy’ plants seeking approval from the Government. However, if we do burn all the worlds’ garbage for power, how do we keep it clean? When you think about it, there are so many small day to day things we could be doing to reduce the worlds rubbish, such as: donating clothes, bulk buying, Reducing, Reusing and Recycling, buying things with less packaging, save leftover, buying less stuff in general along with so many other things that could stop us from re-trashing our lovely planet. I hope that I have convinced you that ‘waste to energy’ plants are the perfect way to clean up the whole world. As well as a renewable energy source and an income source from other countries that cannot afford their own ‘waste to energy’ plant. We must, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, or else we will be forced to incinerate our waste every year.

J enna R aybould Y ear 6G

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JSM Edition 6