Why are we obsessed in recycling, when reduction and reuse is more eco. sound?

Question

Recycling, is less energy efficient then reuse, e.g. collection and reprocessing, while over recent years, packaging has increased, much of which, for many reasons is not recyclable.

Answer 1

I agree. Re-use should be encouraged. I think that the government should tax excessive packaging and that companies should be responsible for the waste their products produce. What happened to the milk man and all kinds of refill bottles, we need to bring them back. I re-use everything I can and try and avoid using plastic bags in stores I bring in my own and use those.

Answer 2

I guess it's an aesthetic thing, like, ewww, I don't want a used bottle!

When I was in Mexico, they had glass soda bottles that you turned in for a deposit or a refill. All sizes, pretty much all brands. It made sense to me...but we've gotten away from that in the US. They also had rooftop water heaters. Solar water heaters are mandatory for residences in Israel.

I guess we need more education to reduce the "I want a new one!" factor. Plus, you have to remember that glass, steel, and aluminum are easy to recycle, but plastic, not so much. Metal recycling is way cheaper than mining and processing ore. So, a reduction of plastic bottles and packaging makes sense, but cans and glass containers are pretty good as far as recycling goes.

Answer 3

birdgirl has a very good point, and it is very true.

I think to be honest, its cause people are too lazy to reduce (cant be bothered to use public transport over cars) and are sometimes too snobby or its not practical to reuse. Its down to people really, its easier for them to throw their tins into a box once a week than get on a bike or walk rather than go to their local newsagent round the corner in their huge range rover that consumes fuel like a bottomless pit would.

Answer 4

Recycling is better than nothing! And lots of things these days can be recycled or reused. I think we're doing better at it!

Answer 5

Too many of us throw out our used appliances and electronic goods, because it is often cheaper to buy new. That is due largely to the labour content in China and other countries where our new manufactured goods are produced. To repair/refurbish items, we are paying Aussies at Aussie rates of pay. Also, how many people realise that a lot more energy is used (and green house gases released) in the course of manufacturing a new fridge (for example) than in replacing a major part in the old fridge? To shift this imbalance, we should scrap the "level playing field" idea of no tariffs, and reintroduce them, esp for countries with lower rates of pay. This I think would be far more equitable, in that it would encourage the other countries to lift their pay rates to their workers, preserve/bring back manufacturing to this country, and reduce reliance on international transport, another big contributor to energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Now, don't get me started on cars!!

Answer 6

Recycling lets people think they are doing their bit without making big changes to their lifestyle. There should be equal importance in all three. It is not in the goverments interest to promote a reduction of consuming resources as this would affect our economy and, put alot of people out of work.

You are right. We need to do all three.

Answer 7

The three RRR's

But no-one has mentioned the C.....Composting!
If all packaging was made bio-degradable, the limited waste that was produced would, (in the case of home composting), not add a single mile to the mad practise of shipping our waste as far afield as China to be recycled!, (this really is happening!), but would enhance the soil quality of your garden.

For everyone else we could put our bio-degradables in the garden waste collection bins for the council to collect.

Answer 8

I think in this country (uk) there's some weird health and safety thing that makes reuse less practicable for companies than it should be.

Answer 9

yes reduction of use is better than recycling. So what are you willing to give up?

Answer 10

do all 3 and it will help