An argument against recycling

[Skanky Vamp]

Recycling is the most multi gender, class and race movement in the world. Did you know that more people recycle than vote? Well, now you do. Most people feel like they are contributing to the community and environment by sorting out their trash. The truth is, everything we’re taught to believe that is good for the planet is actually one big scam. According to the New York Times, “recycling may be one of the most wasteful activity in modern America, a waste of time and money, a waste of human and natural resources.”

Plastic
It is the biggest waste of energy among all recyclable goods. Transport, sorting, storing and cleaning have an enormous cost in greenhouse gases as well as in hefty taxpayer’s bill. A controlled landfill in this case may be the best option, even if it takes 450 years for a bottle to decompose.

Paper
Paper is tricky, most of us believe that we’re saving the world’s forests by recycling it. In respect to transport, sorting, storing and cleaning, paper recycling is one of the priciest on the list. In addition, the quality of the after-product of recycled paper is extremely poor. The good news is that, in 2015, we have tree farms, where trees are being grown for the mere purpose of cutting them off and making paper.

Glass
Glass is the heaviest part of any city’s waste. It also demands the most amount of energy to be recycled. As a result, a bunch of glass ends up in a landfill waiting for a buyer. In other words, overall, there isn’t much use for the glass we throw in trash cans.

Metal
Metals are the only materials that retain their value after being recycled, so private companies can actually make money off them and reuse them at a faster rate.

You might ask yourself, why are recycling programs so popular then, if they are not actually helping the environment? The answer is simple. They are being pursued by politicians and bureaucrats so that their recycling targets can be met. Who sets these recycling targets? Politicians and bureaucrats. It’s a vicious cycle of failed attempts at saving the planet that, ultimately, makes taxpayers suffer the most. Our money goes to things that do more damage than good.
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Do you recycle? What do you recycle? and more importantly, why do you recycle?

 

[Blaze]

I do recycle what I can, but most importantly I try to reduce my consumption. I'm not sure if it's entirely true or false that recycling is better or worst, I think it has more to do with recycling in the specific countries (some countries are much better at recycling stuff and transforming it into energy, which would be beneficial. I forget the leading country in waste management but they are very successful at transforming most of the garbage in energy). But like everything, it is best to just do the cut at the source. People should be focusing on decreasing consumption.

 

[thetopher]

I recylce food waste (which you didn't mention, so I presume its okay), paper (to reduce overall paper consumtion/cutting down of trees) and tin cans. I do it because all the sttuff nessesary is proved by our local council- separate bins for different things- so there's really no reason not to. It doesn't take any less effort from me or any household really.

Like @Blaze says reducing waste/consumption is the main goal and I think recycling- the very act of it- does make people think about the finality of their resources. Not to waste so much food for example.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I think the reduction is more important than recycling for most people. I mean I go to my millionaire friends house and seeing all the food that they throw away and all of their waste. But hey, they do recycle!

 

[GwenRaiden]

Recycling is big business.

China leads the waste recycling league

 

[gite63]

Do you recycle? What do you recycle? and more importantly, why do you recycle?

I've been recycling for about 20 years, since the city government implemented a program to do so - a truck passes three times a week collecting paper, plastic, tin cans, glass etc.

Once collected, the waste is separated at sorting centers, or recycling cooperatives; then it is bought by industries at favorable prices and is reused in manufacturing new products.

They ask to wash the dirtier materials before discarding them, and I try not to waste much water in the process.

Recycling also helps to diminish the amount of garbage at the city dump.

The recycled waste is also collected by independent collectors or collectors' cooperatives formed by homeless people who have this activity as their principal source of income.

The recycled aluminum cans, for example, are used to produce new cans. Last year, Brazil has recycled 9 billion cans. That meant 97.5% of national production, making the country world champion in recycling.

 

[Mr Trick]

Oddly enough at the student accommadation here we don't have our own recycling bins, just the regular ones, but then I'm assuming that when we take the trash down to the big bins than it is later recylced. There are smaller recycling bins around the building so we can still do it.

 

[Buffy Summers]

Where I live, you have to pay to recycle, same as the trash. Even though you are required to do it.

 

[The Bronze]

In my area we have recycling collections for plastic, paper, cardboard, tins, bottles and green waste. We recycle as much as we can because it makes no difference to me which bag I have to put my stuff in. I hope the recycling scheme is run well but to be honest I wouldn't know if it's any better than the rubbish collection.

In general though I can't believe that recycling is a bad idea. It simply can't be worse than burying all our rubbish in the planet and then burying our heads in the sand and forgetting about it. If it's not working properly at the moment then an effort really needs to be made on improving rather than abandoning. Obviously as @Blaze mentioned we need to seriously reduce our consumption. I think the figure is something ridiculous like we're consuming about 3 planets worth of resources at the moment. It would help a lot if we stopped our massive population expansion.

 

[GwenRaiden]

I give as much as I can to charity instead of throwing stuff in the bin, eg clothes, kitchenware, baby toys. I sell furniture on facebook buy and sell pages when I need rid of it and also give other bigger stuff to my mother for her to sell at her "everything" market stall.

In terms of food storage waste, I try to reuse what I can for storing others foods, but have a blue ikea bag for plastics and cardboard for the separate bin out back.

The plastic bag charge has only just started in England, whereas it's been going on a while in Scotland. I think that's helped a lot, the 5p charge has mostly given people the incentive to start reusing plastic bags or buying larger, non plastic bags for shopping. I see far less plastic shopping bags littered and blowing about in the streets. I take strong reusable bags with me everywhere now!
 
Oh! And I don't have any food waste, what with having a dog.

When I lived in Edinburgh there were specific food waste bins in the street for street residents to use. I always thought that was a bit strange. It definitely attracted rats and foxes.

 

[The Bronze]

The plastic bag charge has only just started in England, whereas it's been going on a while in Scotland. I think that's helped a lot, the 5p charge has mostly given people the incentive to start reusing plastic bags or buying larger, non plastic bags for shopping. I see far less plastic shopping bags littered and blowing about in the streets. I take strong reusable bags with me everywhere now!

I've been using reusable bags at the supermarket for a long time now. It makes so much more sense once you're used to it. Just leave them in the boot and you won't forget them. The amount of people complaining about the new charges has been really sad. It's long overdue and doesn't have a down side that I can see.

 

[GwenRaiden]

I've been using reusable bags at the supermarket for a long time now. It makes so much more sense once you're used to it. Just leave them in the boot and you won't forget them. The amount of people complaining about the new charges has been really sad. It's long overdue and doesn't have a down side that I can see.

Yeah, it's just second nature now. I don't even think they should sell the 5p ones at all. They should only sell the 10p 'bags for life', that way people won't keep buying the cheaper 5p ones for convenience and will start bringing their own along. Even if you're on a lunch break from work, it can't be that hard to take a small bag along with you.

 

[Mr Trick]

I can see the logic to the charges but still find them very unfair, and is a bit of a slap in the face to customers who are already paying enough for the food.

 

[GwenRaiden]

I can see the logic to the charges but still find them very unfair, and is a bit of a slap in the face to customers who are already paying enough for the food.

But you won't be charged it you bring your own, more environmentally friendly bag along? What's the big deal?
 
I used to work in Boots the chemist, at lunchtimes people in buying lunch would ask for a bag for a bottle of water. It's just unnecessary.

 

[Mr Trick]

But you won't be charged it you bring your own, more environmentally friendly bag along? What's the big deal?
 
I used to work in Boots the chemist, at lunchtimes people in buying lunch would ask for a bag for a bottle of water. It's just unnecessary.

No I can see that, but then I just don't think in theory that people should be charged for something like a bag, its almost like a punishment for forgetting which some people just do because of other things. Even give someone a bag or don't but I don't think it should cost anything.

 

[GwenRaiden]

Charging 5p for a standard bag is to give people the incentive to be more conscious about the environment. It's not a punishment. And even if you do forget a bag, like I've sometimes done before, I buy a 10p bag for life, so that I can reuse it again, and fit plenty of shopping from other shops in it too. Personally I think they should stop producing the 5p bags, they're just wasteful and people will keep buying them given the option. They are crap quality anyway, they're rubbish, literally. You'd be better buying a net bag or a strong material bag and keeping it on you when you can.

 

[Buffy Summers]

I can't believe the reusable ones only cost 10p! lol

 

[nightshade]

I tend to use canvas bags for my shopping, yes they cost a bit more but they have better handles, I can sling my big one over my shoulder and most of my food shopping fits in it. As I walk with the food size and comfort are worth it, plus it's a Doctor Who bag!

Here the council provide recycling bins for us and collect them every 2 weeks, so it's easy to recycle.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I can't believe the reusable ones only cost 10p! lol

Hey Boufay.. here's a dumb question.. what is the feelings on buying a reusable bag from one store and using it at another? Is that a cultural faux pas? To walk into a grocery with the name of another blazed upon it?

 

[Buffy Summers]

Hmm...that's never come up. I don't think I have any bags from an actual grocery store. And there's really only one in my town that is half-decent. But I guess they should be happy you're giving them your money instead of the other guy lol