Should it be harder to recycle?

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Should it be harder to recycle?

Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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Jb

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 10 8:43 am Post subject: Should it be harder to recycle?
"Reduce, reuse, recycle!" As long as people focus on the last isn't it giving them a licence to continue to consume as much as ever? If all the customers can put their packaging in a recycle bin then what motivation is there for companies to reduce their waste? So should we make it more of an obligation to recycle but harder to do so.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 10 8:52 am Post subject:

hmm, round here people view the recylcing bags as extra bin space, so they do use them, but if there was any more stringent restrictions then I suspect it would all just go straight in the wheely bins again for most people.

Looking at the recycling bags on bin day its almost all pop bottles, beer tins, fast food packaging and washing liquid bottles, maybe the ideal woud be to force manufacturers to pare down their packaging even more. So perhaps it could be normal to buy washing liquid in those thin polybags rather than the big tough bottles, and perhaps frozen fast food doesnt need quite so much cardboard packaging.

Most people I have a nasty feeling just don't much care either way though, as long as the rubbish is taken away when they have had their convenience products, they aren't worried what happens to it afterwards.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 10 10:44 am Post subject:
I see where you're coming from. I think that things should stay mainly as they are but with the addition of ideas similar to the one dealt with in this thread. https://forum.downsizer.net/about55652.html A combination of the two would work better I'm sure.

baldybloke

Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1388
Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 10 11:06 am Post subject:

REDUCE is the most important one. I have minimilised all packaging, bought at source as much as I can. I try to make do with the bare essentials. The more stuff you have the more cluttered your life is.

REUSE is the next stage. I try and find uses for old containers and jars. I will always endeavour to repair things if I can. Also I try and buy secondhand and only buy new as a last resort.

RECYCLE is the last option. If you can't do the two above then do this which is better than sending to landfill.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 10 11:22 am Post subject:

I think it is important to remember that there are actually four R's; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse, and perhaps it is our responsibility to see the first transition off to a good start before we worry too much about the next. Small retailers will always lead the way, but the larger ones have to take it on to cover the wider population. I do see a lot of reuse for carrier bags in shops these days though, so we're going the right way.

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 10 11:26 am Post subject:
It would be good to add repair to the list...

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