Us vs Consumerism and Waste
In making efforts to save our environment recycling became a part of our cultures.
A smart and simple action we can all take part in.
However it is a flawed idea as many plastics can't be recycled.
Glass isn't easy to break down to reuse and the cost to do so doesn't make it as viable as desired.
Paper too can be problematic to recycle if its' been coated with chemicals.
The average person is unaware or doesn't care.
Now in 2022 I've been told there's a shortage of cardboard as more people turned to online shopping.
I did notice one thing recycling, especially paper products, the amount of garbage I generated has significantly reduced. It takes me a few months to fill a standard large garbage bag. Making it so I only have to take garbage to the curb for pick-up a few times a year. The shame is most of what's in there is un-recyclable plastic from food products. Very few appreciate the weekly routine of getting the trash out, yet they continue to generate refuse from purchases, especially containers from food and beverages. Where ever I've worked there are always those who insist they require some stores' coffee everyday and with some more than once a day.
Again a huge waste, and one of the constant items seen rolling down our roadways. Paper may breakdown quickly but the plastic, glass and metal won't.
There are days I would like to point the blame of litter to the chains they came from. Even though I know it's just ignorant individuals.
On top of recycling the basics, when possible, I also try to separate as much metal as possible; frozen juice can lids, the serrated cutting strips from plastic or foil wrap boxes, even ball up aluminum foil after a few uses.
Thanks to cheap manufacturing standards household appliances and electronics are only good for a few years. (I swear anything with a microchip inside is programmed to fail within a given time period just so we have to buy a new one) Those defective goods I break down, saving the metal for the scrap-yard and plastic to the curbside bin.
The shortened lifespan of appliances and electronics has been noticed by enough people legal actions have been sought including trying to get manufactures to create products that can be repaired. (My MacBook's keyboard failed and I'm actually on my 3rd keyboard. Apple this year has decided to refund consumers knowing there was an issue with their 'butterfly keys', sadly their refunds are limited to products sold in the past ten years, my MacBook is 15 years old so I'm SOL)
Even the clothes we buy don't seem to hold up to wear like they used to. It's a good idea to get new underwear every couple years for hygienic reasons. I'm finding a pair of underwear won't even make it a few years. T-shirts were an item one could almost hand down to children but if the collars aren't ragged in a couple years they develop holes easier than any I've remembered.
These poorly made products come from countries with few regulations and no minimum wage to increase profits.
Watching entrepreneur shows like Shark's Tank or Dragon's Den tired of hearing 'have it made elsewhere for better revenue'. An increased profit margin is ideal but the cost to society becomes higher if we have to throw out and replace these things frequently.
The higher wages in North America and Europe makes it difficult for businesses to compete with other countries. With populations always increasing we need more job opportunities not less.
About twenty years back I was seeing how unemployment and poverty were destroying Detroit MI USA. The citizens were vacating, business disappearing, so those trying to survive turned to personal recycling for cash. Not helping their community any some individuals went to far, stealing wires from hydro poles and businesses. The stealing of brand new wires most inconsiderate to businesses still trying to survive there, the scrap value of copper is a tiny fraction of what the wire cost the business. The cutting of ground wires off hydro poles most foolish as it puts an increased risk of electrocution to others if lightening strikes.
A disgraceful happening was low-income house owners who went to work had their homes targeted for its' aluminum siding or copper plumbing.
Now I'm seeing my smaller community facing similar issues as the drug addicts are targeting, hydro ground wires and lamp post wiring. The destructive thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles and air conditioning units is very upsetting. Especially the air conditioning condensing units, as these thieves cut open the copper lines allowing the toxic refrigerants to escape into the atmosphere.
The scrap-yard is one of the few places that still offers cash payments to people.
The economy has become so hard Pawn-shops are closing up.
Thieves assume insurance will cover the losses, but thieves don't understand insurance will only pay on a scale; the older it is the less they pay out. The more claims one has to make because of thieves they chance increased insurance rates or being dropped for being a high risk.
A sad fact of life the scrap-yards and pawnshops continue to pay thieves because they are a business that wants to survive as well. Money ugh.
If more people put out recycled goods more thieves would target the bins, perhaps reducing destructive thefts. Of course this upsets some homeowners especially if they have to pick-up after their bins have been rifled through.
Recently a company created a machine for recycling plastic. It was to be used in countries high in poverty or communities of displaced people just trying to survive. These machines created grind up the plastics then offer molds to form the plastic into useable items like chairs and tables. On top of providing a community with furnishings it aids in cleaning up their area. Also giving people something to do and possibly selling products enough to start a small business for less fortunate.
Hearing the story thought these machines should be bought by municipalities with high rates of homelessness, creating opportunities and cleaning up cities.
LEGO enthusiasts would want home versions to create blocks'n'bricks
The creators need to create a machine for paper-goods as well.
