IELTS ESSAY Task 2

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?

In recent years, waste pollution has become a major environmental issue around the world, causing some public controversy. Although uncontrolled waste disposal poses some considerable threats to public health, this development can be prevented by introducing regulations regarding waste recycling.

On one hand, imposing legal restrictions would help raise public awareness on this matter. First, by making waste recycling a legal obligation, citizens, especially those in urban centers, would be more motivated to improve their behavior. For example, if recycling guidelines come into play, householders will likely to separate waste materials into different bins, which effectively facilitates the recycling process. Second, in order for residents to pay attention towards the recycling issue, stricter punitive measures should be enforced. For instance, by imposing prison sentences for repeat offenders of improper waste disposal, citizens would be discouraged from throwing trash carelessly, resulting in a cleaner, waste-free environment.

Besides, legal actions are highly necessary to ensure responsible corporate behavior. First, the media has revealed many instances of manufacturers disposing of their waste irresponsibly, causing irreversible damage to the ecological community. This suggests that if the governments had stepped in and imposed tougher penalties on waste recycling, the affected regions would have been saved. In addition, many companies, especially in manufacturing industries, are reliant on packaging process at the expense of the environment. Therefore, by imposing higher taxes on packaging products, chances are those companies will produce fewer non-recyclable wrapping materials, such as plastic bags, leading to a lower amount of waste.

In conclusion, it is imperative for the governments to promote recycling practices across the country, especially in metropolitan areas. Raising public’s green awareness should also be required to create a healthier environment.