General Discussions

**JOEBIALEK** · 08-15-2007, 09:59 PM

According to Wikipedia {the free encyclopedia} "recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products. Recycling generally prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, reduces the consumption of raw materials and reduces energy usage, and hence greenhouse gas emissions, compared to virgin production." The recent discussion concerning global warming has focused primarily on alternative sources of fuel for the purpose of transportation. However, another very important pro-environment tool is recycling. The effort needs to involve more than the consumer and the government. It needs to involve those who sell {and profit} from those products that can be recycled. For example, the manufactures of bottles and cans along with the producers of what's sold inside them as well as the grocery stores that distribute them must take on a greater economic role in the process of recycling. The voluntary "blue bag at the curb" approach is a good start but it relies primarily on the altruism of the consumer.

The question is: does the consumer bear sole responsibility for what happens to a can or bottle that contains the product used? or should some of that responsibility be borne by those who profit from its' use? Are these responsibilities being borne already and are they equitable? Some time ago bottlers would charge a five-cent "deposit" on a bottle to be "refunded" when the consumer returned the bottle. It would seem that this concept could be reoperationalized for a whole host of products. The consumer could clean the bottle or can, return it to the grocery story for a "refund" and the grocery store would return it to the producer then to the manufacturer etcetera each receiving a "refund" along the way. When all parties involved have an economic incentive to participate, recycling will make a much larger contribution towards preserving the environment.

**D-not** · 08-15-2007, 11:33 PM

Bottom line, if you buy it, it is your responsibility to dispose of it properly. This applies to people, organizations and corporations all the same.

**Learning Newbie** · 08-16-2007, 06:35 PM

If I drink a can of Coke, I'm the only one who's able to recycle (or not) that can.

**dansgalaxy** · 08-16-2007, 09:12 PM

i see what he means (i think) yes the customer is the only one who can really recycle it. but the big company who sold it should be forced to pay a % towards what their product cost to recycle by paying for things like recycling plants and projects etc etc

**MrCat** · 08-16-2007, 09:24 PM

The government should also take in this as the bottling company pays their taxes. They should be able to make apt programs on these issues, hand-in-hand with the bottling company. We as consumers should know also the right thing to do by disposing of it properly. Unless all would work on this together, imagine what our planet would be like in 2030 or so. Horrible!

**dansgalaxy** · 08-16-2007, 09:43 PM

I think this is part of the problem.

alot of people say "think about what the planet will be like in 20 years or 10 year" but look at the planet NOW its bad enough now it needs to be fixed now its far to easy for human nature to take over and brush ut aside for a year before the "10 years from now" when nothing can be done.

Dan

**ForrestCroce** · 08-16-2007, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansgalaxy

Ibut look at the planet NOW

The #1 difficulty I have as a landscape photographer is having to work for a living ... but when I do get away from the grind-stone, air quality is #2.

**D-not** · 08-17-2007, 12:02 AM

Yeah, here I guess it is different that the recycling system is done by the government (seriously some years tax revenue and material sales have been pretty close) but my view of the situation is the consumer must act responsibly before we should expect the corporations to do so.
It's like how there was a person up here blaming the forestry companies for causing fires with their machines yet while on the news he tosses a cigarette into the bushes. What example does he show for his cause?
The same goes for talking about recycling. If the consumer doesn't do everything to reduce their waste, who are they to blame corporations for merely doing the same?

**DaveMo~** · 08-17-2007, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansgalaxy

but the big company who sold it should be forced to pay a % towards what their product cost to recycle by paying for things like recycling plants and projects etc etc

Ah, but the catch here is that if they have to pay a percentage, then the price of the product just went up and the consumer is still paying for it in the long run.

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-not

but my view of the situation is the consumer must act responsibly before we should expect the corporations to do so.
.... If the consumer doesn't do everything to reduce their waste, who are they to blame corporations for merely doing the same?

I agree with that. The consumer must be responsible for doing recycling.

I'm not taking up for big business, but it seems to stack up like this. They have a product that we want or need. It must be packaged in some fashion to deliver it to the customer. The package is bought along with the product and is no longer the responsibility of the manufacturer (not counting defective stuff). However, the manufacturer should make sure that the packaging is appropriately labeled so the consumer knows how to dispose or recycle it.

Another part of recycling is to decide how far back to take the issue. For example, the aluminum plant makes the aluminum and sells it to another plant that paints and makes the cans for the Pepsi corporation. Pepsi sells their drinks to the consumer. So how far back do you go? Maybe the miners that got the minerals for for the aluminum, or maybe the farmers that grew the sugar cane for the Pepsi, or how about the companies that boxed the cans to send to Pepsi, or the makers of the cartons that hold the cans?

I think you see what I'm getting at.

I think D-not had the bottom line: "Bottom line, if you buy it, it is your responsibility to dispose of it properly. This applies to people, organizations and corporations all the same."

And please recycle what you can.

And in the words of the immortal Bob Barker, "Please have your pet spayed or neutered!"

Dave

**D-not** · 08-17-2007, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

I think D-not had the bottom line: "Bottom line, if you buy it, it is your responsibility to dispose of it properly. This applies to people, organizations and corporations all the same."

And on the first post too! How awesome I am!
But I think if corporations were left with the recycling they'd just pass it around and we'd be going nowhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

And in the words of the immortal Bob Barker, "Please have your pet spayed or neutered!"