How do we get the world to recycle?

[chrissreef]

That's fine if people don't "believe" in global warming - but when a recycle bin is placed right next to every trash can in the building, how hard is it to recycle a bottle, paper or cardboard?

(meetings, my officemate, cafeteria, people with children at home or on bring your kid to work day... I feel fortunate that my company even offers us the ability to recycle but people just don't even when it's right there)

Outside of putting a recycle been next to every trash can in the world, how do we get people to use them?

is it that much of an "inconvenience"? awareness? generation gap? disposable/wasteful upbringing? culture? media? faith? respect thing? surely these can be combated

http://green.yahoo.com/news/afp/20080519/sc_afp/japanenvironmentclimate.html

 

[airinhere]

As someone who is a little bit vocal about my disaproval of the whole global warming issue, I have to agree with Chrisreef about recycling.

The way I see it, humanity has come to a point of realizing the finite limits of our resources on this planet. We also are aware that our actions have real consequences on the enviroment around us. We need to begin to consider long term planning as part of our greater conciousness.

While I do not agree with the science backing global warming, I do embrace the fact that for the first time we care to understand not only our place in the world, but also our impact on the world as well.

It saddens me to see that recycling is not more commonly accepted and is almost viewed with disdain or scorn by many people in our society.

Somehow the message is being overshadowed by the messengers and is failing to reach the intended audience.

I sometimes think people resist it just because they are unwilling to do what the "Left" wants them to do. They are afraid of being identified that way. It almost is embarassing to be identified that way.

Not everyone is impacted by the emotionally based advertising that supports much of the enviromentally aware causes that are out there. Many people listen to those sorts of appeals and see them as laughable or trivial. Emotions are for repressing, not for public displays.

But, yeah. I agree about the recycling issue.

 

[samtheman]

Re: How do we get the world to recycle?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12576681#post12576681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrissreef
That's fine if people don't "believe" in global warming - but when a recycle bin is placed right next to every trash can in the building, how hard is it to recycle a bottle, paper or cardboard?

(meetings, my officemate, cafeteria, people with children at home or on bring your kid to work day... I feel fortunate that my company even offers us the ability to recycle but people just don't even when it's right there)

Outside of putting a recycle been next to every trash can in the world, how do we get people to use them?

is it that much of an "inconvenience"? awareness? generation gap? disposable/wasteful upbringing? culture? media? faith? respect thing? surely these can be combated

http://green.yahoo.com/news/afp/20080519/sc_afp/japanenvironmentclimate.html

It’s the hypocrisy of the movement. The real problem we face is population. The Green movement won’t touch that issue, but talks platitudes and focuses on the symptoms of population growth. Recycle all you want, but what little that saves will be overshadowed by our yearly population growth and make no real difference. You have to have a license to drive, practice medicine, or hunt, but anybody can have a kid that will lack proper resources and the education necessary to be a contributing member of society. Every individual birth requires more resources and space for a decent life. How many do you want in the life boat, before you all starve or the damn thing sinks? Oh, but lets be sure to keep the plastic cups separated. Worry about something important.

 

[Paul_PSU]

I agree with airinhere. I feel recycling is important. I try to do my part at home, but when our local govt got nailed for dumping the products labeled for recycling in to the regular landfill, you kind of say, "what's the point" Maybe if Al put the the time and effort into real issues like recycling, some changes would be made in peoples attitudes. I realize that the savings from recycling are small, but that does not mean it is not important at all. With recycling, it is not just about the $, but about having landfills with plastic that will still be here for our great, great, great grandchildren. Most people are selfish and just don't care.

Sam, at least Chris is trying to deal with an issue that we can have an impact on no matter how small. How do you suggest we solve your more "important" problem? You can never stop anyone from having a child no matter of their position in life. But at least dealing with recylcing is a realistic goal and can have an impact. You knocked his position and belief, offered another problem, but then no solution or suggestion. By the way I happen to feel that there are some people that should not be allowed to reproduce...

 

[chrissreef]

I agree, population is a bigger issue but that's not what I'm asking an answer for. Whether the population is stable, increasing or decreasing - I don't believe it's ethical or responsible to discard a majority of non-degradable trash that's clearly recyclable or designed to be recycled... especially when a recycle bin is right next to a trash can. A single cigarette bud on the side of a road, eating a piece of fried chicken or a small dead fish in an aquarium isn't that big of a deal... but when they begin to pile up over time it clearly becomes a problem. This is part of the reason why I feel recycling is so important - our land/sea isn't infinite in size.

Air - great comments

Anyone with any ideas? At least something I can carry into the office?

(regarding population - personally I feel a license is required to have children - particularly in high resource demanding countries).

 

[scottras]

As with most problems, it's all about economics. You have to make it more profitable to recycle. Recycling steel or aluminum cans is profitable but the money just isn't there for glass, paper and plastics.

If there were plans, for example, to make biofuels out of recycled paper then I am sure that you would see local governments pushing recycling more and offering more incentives to people who recycle properly.

That to me means throwing money towards basic research on recycling.

Sam, we all know your views on population, and I am sure we all agree that the world is overpopulated, but you can not focus on just one problem.

 

[Freed]

I recycle as much as possible. Let me put it this way: I recycle what the city feels is necessary that we recycle. They only take 1 and 2 plastic(most everything is made of 3-7), and they also take paper and cardboard. If they took more of the plastic numbers I would recycle more, but they don't.

 

[chrissreef]

Freed - good point, many cities (including mine) don't accept many numbers, and even then buckets (#2) aren't accepted.

I just want people to recycle all the bottles/cans at my work... the recycle bin is right next to the stupid trash can for gods sake!

Hmm, I wonder if imposing a "tax" on trash or non-recycable plastics (esp. on consumable products) would get more governments and people involved? (sad solution... but it's 1 idea, others?)

 

[Paul_PSU]

I was with you Chris, until you started about adding another tax. We pay enough taxes (that's another topic on its own)

Paul

 

[airinhere]

Demystification of the process needs to be implemented in a major way.

As it stands, recycling is way too convoluted and far too limited in scope. I dont understand why I toss one plastic container into the trash but another should go to the recycle bin.

Often everything just goes into the trash. This habit follows from home into the workplace.

People are just doing what they are doing at home. Ever notice how many people toss trash into the recycle bins?

That always kills me.

 

[chrissreef]

Paul - hahaha, yea I think that's a bad idea now too... but I hear that in CA they're considering taxing Porn like Tobacco products and well... I think that's a bad idea too! lol My fiancee says we should make everyone carry around their trash every day but only allow them to "unload" recyclable products - not a bad idea I think =)

Air - "Ever notice how many people toss trash into the recycle bins?" yea... I once saw a lady in the cafeteria read the sign that said "recycle here" with an arrow into the bin and then throw all her food in... mind you, the regular trash can was sitting about 6" away and was twice as big.

Another subject that I wish I could change would be getting cafeterias to use plates/silverwear again... styrofoam/plastic at every school/business I've ever worked in.

Thanks for the posts guys =)

 

[greenbean36191]

Yep, I agree with airinhere. The biggest hurdle is making it simpler for people to figure out what is and isn't recyclable. At my parents house they only take paper, aluminum, and 1 and 2, but no glossy paper, no plastic bottle caps, no large plastic buckets, etc. At my place they take aluminum, glass, any paper, and 1. Both places use a common bin. On campus they take paper, aluminum, and 1 or 2. There's one bin for plastic and aluminum and another for paper. At my grandmother's place they take paper, aluminum, and any type of plastic but it all has to be sorted into individual bins.

With so much regional variation with what is and isn't acceptable and how it has to be sorted I think it's just too confusing. Plus people are just lazy and don't feel like sorting recyclables from non-recyclables because they don't get any direct benefit from it.

 

[chrissreef]

aren't there 2-3 cities/states that are very progressive with recycling? anyone know how they do it?

 

[gskidmor]

you don't need new taxes, you just have to wait a few years - when gas prices start to head over the $5 - $6 mark and higher, then people won't have too many other choices. Plastic becomes extremely expensive because it requires oil - glass and metal become more common. Look at Japan - practically every house has multiple recycle bins because everything is so expensive and it's a method to cope with it. Give it time and many people will have no other choice but to recycle (and consume less because of the price point issue) - either way, higher gas prices are a blessing for the environment

 

[Beachbaby]

The key is not only recycling, but reusing what you can. I compost everything I can, I also reuse water bottles until they are unrecognizable. I use egg cartons (cardboard only) to start seedlings, and then compost those. I do not believe in global warming-I believe in natural fluctuations of the earth, but why the heck should I contribute to polluting the earth until it is uninhabitable?
I do not buy paper plates, plastic cups, or anything that will stay around for a thousand years, for the sake of convenience. I find the cleaner environment convenient.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

By the way-I'm new and this place rocks!

 

[Paul_PSU]

And when you're done with the soapbox make sure you reuse it for something else also, like storing your reef supplies... :lol:

WELCOME TO REEF CENTRAL!!!:rollface: :rollface:

 

[Beachbaby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12679247#post12679247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
And when you're done with the soapbox make sure you reuse it for something else also, like storing your reef supplies... :lol:

WELCOME TO REEF CENTRAL!!!:rollface: :rollface:

Thanks. See? I'm recycling your message.:lol:

 

[reefergeorge]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12589399#post12589399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrissreef
aren't there 2-3 cities/states that are very progressive with recycling? anyone know how they do it?

I don't know if we count, but in St. Louis MO. The gov gave every household a 30 something gallon recycling bin on wheels. They take everything in one common can, and pick it up every Fri.
Like stated above when it is made easier more people will recy.

 

[chrissreef]

reefergeorge - many suburbs do that in Dallas as well. As you said, making it easy gets people to do it.

There's a few handful of cities out there that really get people recycling. I forget which... but it's like 90% of the homes and business recycle, I think styrofoam isn't allows in caffeterias or packing companies etc. The cities I heard about were pretty small though, like 30-40k tops.

 

[fittiger]

What about working this in to schools. If you get the younger generations recycling they will carry it through their life. They also are likely to take this habit home persuading the rest of the family to recycle. This more of a long term plan than immediate, but it is an easier target audience.

As far as population control....this government should never be able to tell people who can or can't have children, or how many for that matter. Tax breaks for those only having a limited number, say 1, would influence a few but not make much impact.

Another solution would be for our welfare system to stop supporting mothers reproducing in order to get a larger government check. Unfortunately a majority of the children born in to these scenarios tend to get poor education and socialization and a majority of those end up being a larger drain on society. I don't think more than one child should be supported in these cases, and if they want government support, then require government aided sterilization, or at the very least, birth control (although this would do little good if not taken). I know the sterilization issue is taboo to many but if you can't support your first child then you really shouldn't want to have others.