Why does America produce so much garbage?

Question

The US is the world capital of garbage; with just 5% of the planet's population America generates 30% of the its trash. The average American creates a staggering 4.5 pounds of rubbish daily.

Why? What should be done about it? What can Americans do as individuals and what portion of it is to be put on the backs of Industries that produce disposable everything and individually wrapped products?

Answer 1

its just not america..but the whole world... mother nature is really sufferring... guys....get this in ur head... this world is not ur heirloom... Every individual need to be extra cautious when it comes to earth... think twice while do anything which pollute ur environment.. guys its very simple... earth is ur mother...pls handle it with care..so that u can pass on her to ur next generation..its ur duty..have fun..but dont mess with nature.... coz nature is god's given..

Answer 2

Tax garbage. People hate to be hit in the pocket. Very difficult to get Americans to vote for taxes though. So perhaps the tax raised could be offset by some tax breaks for recycling or something.

Answer 3

Don't worry. The democrats have a visionary idea to solve this problem. By instituting socialist reforms, they will dramatically lower the standard of living of everyone in the US to say, what the typical person in Cuba enjoys. Since people won't have much in the way of belongings anymore, they won't dare throw anything away.

Answer 4

Americans are pigs. We are so self involved that things like the environment do not matter. There are so many other things grabbing our attention, like "pimp my ride" for example, that people are more interested in. I think that unless people have to pay some sort of "consumption tax" and are faced with a consequence for their actions, no one will change.

Answer 5

arrogance lots? every person is demise of starvation and poverty international huge. looking solid is the final concern a authorities or any smart team of people would desire to be questioning of in those instances. additionally, if every person exchange into pleasing in us of a, would that mean america of us of a is pleasing? If all those every person is dumb ignoramuses, or haven't any character or morals, or if the rustic is a multitude, would splendor shop all of them? I stay in the eastern Europe, and my usa is deep in poverty, additionally because of the fact of loss of training and lifestyle, the texture of the rustic is unfavorable: 70-eighty% of the every person is very stupid and ignorant, no one facilitates absolutely everyone else (with something) easily there's a feeling that every person else despises every person else... that's a unfavorable feeling to stay between this society, pleasing people or not, it makes no distinction. you're additionally form of a racist are not you?

Answer 6

We are a throw away society.

BUT we are also a ficancial powerhouse, and alot of papers and such are generated because of it

It doesn't help that everything must be filled out in triplicate and when that gets "lost" it needs to be filled out again.

Answer 7

They could stop eating &£@# to start and re use some of their things. The only way to put this into action is to replace fast food with resturants that use plates and cutery and Start recycling campains.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20061003044054AAR0iuf

Answer 8

Because if you care about the earth you are a liberal commie pig who hates America and needs to be tried for treason becaues there is no global warming therefore it is purely evil to live green and in harmony with the earth.