Literature

READING WORKSHOP 2

There are several disadvantages to recycling. More people

and trucks are needed to haul materials separately from

your trash. The materials then must be separated at special

facilities. In addition, demand for things made from recycled

materials must exist, and items made from recycled materials

often cost more. 5

The Population Outlook The human population explosion^3

already has had an effect on the environment and the

organisms that inhabit Earth. It’s unlikely that the population

will begin to decline in the near future. To make up for this,

resources must be used wisely. Conserving resources by

reducing, reusing, and recycling is an important way that

you can make a difference. ❍

Practice the Skills

5 Key Reading Skill

Using Text Features Bold

headings lead you through this

article. Which heading guides

you to a section about the num-

ber of people living on Earth?

This article also includes pho-

tographs, charts, and captions.

Which of those features provides

hopeful information about land-

fill use?

3. The population explosion is the recent increase in the number of people on Earth.
   It has occurred because more people are being born and more people are living longer.

Figure 3 U.S. trash production is increasing, but trash deposited in landfi lls

is decreasing. In 1980, 82 percent of trash went to a landfi ll; today, it’s only

55 percent, thanks to waste-reducing methods such as recycling.

Conserving Resources 563
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