Geology: Recycling and Conservation

Recycling and Conservation

Our geologic resources are nonrenewable. The more we consume, the less will be available for future generations. Even though new technologies are providing ways of using other materials in industry, recycling will continue to play an increasingly important role in the years to come. The amount of consumption of resources continues to vastly exceed the amount of the recovery and reuse of those resources through recycling. Conservation efforts target using less of a commodity, such as petroleum, to slow down the depletion of known reserves. How quickly recycling and conservation efforts increase in the future will likely be directly related to the increasing cost and demand for certain commodities.