Trash can negatively affect the earth in many ways, which is why recycling is so important. Recycling reduces the amount of waste that is sent to landfills. Most of the trash that ends up in landfills can take years, decades, or even centuries to decompose. Plastic bottles, for example, can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose. 

There are many environmental benefits to recycling. First of all, recycling conserves energy. Extracting raw materials from the earth requires the use of a lot of energy. However, recycled products require less energy to be processed into usable materials. Second of all, recycling reduces air pollution. Incinerators burn the trash that is sent to landfills, which release harmful gasses into the atmosphere. These harmful gases contribute to the cause of acid rain and global warming. Recycling helps reduce air pollution and improves air quality. A third positive impact of recycling is that it reduces water pollution. A majority of the plastic that is not recycled ends up in oceans. Also, electronic waste contains toxins, such as mercury and lead, which can seep into groundwater and other local water sources from landfills. Recycling helps improve water quality and reduces water pollution

Recycling can benefit the planet in many ways. Trash negatively affects the earth and is harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly. It is important to recycle and protect the environment to help reduce the amount of pollution on earth.