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JOEBIALEK
Stranger
Registered: 06/03/05
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Recycling
#7444124 - 09/23/07 01:29 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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According to Wikipedia {the free encyclopedia} "recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products. Recycling generally prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, reduces the consumption of raw materials and reduces energy usage, and hence greenhouse gas emissions, compared to virgin production." The recent discussion concerning global warming has focused primarily on alternative sources of fuel for the purpose of transportation. However, another very important pro-environment tool is recycling. The effort needs to involve more than the consumer and the government. It needs to involve those who sell {and profit} from those products that can be recycled. For example, the manufactures of bottles and cans along with the producers of what's sold inside them as well as the grocery stores that distribute them must take on a greater economic role in the process of recycling. The voluntary "blue bag at the curb" approach is a good start but it relies primarily on the altruism of the consumer. The question is: does the consumer bear sole responsibility for what happens to a can or bottle that contains the product used? or should some of that responsibility be borne by those who profit from its' use? Are these responsibilities being borne already and are they equitable? Some time ago bottlers would charge a five-cent "deposit" on a bottle to be "refunded" when the consumer returned the bottle. It would seem that this concept could be reoperationalized for a whole host of products. The consumer could clean the bottle or can, return it to the grocery story for a "refund" and the grocery store would return it to the producer then to the manufacturer etcetera each receiving a "refund" along the way. When all parties involved have an economic incentive to participate, recycling will make a much larger contribution towards preserving the environment.
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wilshire
free radical


Registered: 05/11/05
Posts: 2,421
Loc: SE PA
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When all parties involved have an economic incentive to participate, recycling will make a much larger contribution towards preserving the environment.
what's not clear is if there actually is an economic incentive to participate in all cases. the overall cost of recycling may be greater for some materials than the overall cost of not recycling.
when it is efficient to recycle, as in the case of scrap metal (aluminum in particular) state subsidized programs have never been necessary to get people to reclaim materials.
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Recycling [Re: wilshire]
#7444442 - 09/23/07 03:23 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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One argument used to promote recycling is that it avoids landfills filling up. Penn and Teller did a Bullshit show on this issue and found that it's hysteria.
They determined that a single 11 x 11 mile landfill (a relatively tiny area) is large enough to contain all the garbage the US produces in 100 years. And when a landfill is full, it's turned into a park.
The best argument for recycling is that in some cases (like aluminum) it saves energy and money. In most other cases it doesn't.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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EntheogenicPeace
Scholar



Registered: 10/04/05
Posts: 3,926
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Edited by EntheogenicPeace (01/01/18 07:29 PM)
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wilshire
free radical


Registered: 05/11/05
Posts: 2,421
Loc: SE PA
Last seen: 14 years, 3 days
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why should they do that when there are valid concerns that in many cases, recycling programs consume more resources than they conserve?
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UlcerPentacidis
psilophile

Registered: 01/14/04
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recycling is cool and all,
but the other two R's are far more important.
-------------------- µgrammar
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EntheogenicPeace
Scholar



Registered: 10/04/05
Posts: 3,926
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Re: Recycling [Re: wilshire]
#7445903 - 09/23/07 09:55 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Edited by EntheogenicPeace (01/01/18 07:30 PM)
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Ziggen
Bludgeon Yer Eye



Registered: 06/27/05
Posts: 651
Loc: Parts Unknown
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Quote:
UlcerPentacidis said: but the other two R's are far more important.
Recycling of most things (especially plastic bottles) creates much more waste and pollution than just making new stuff. If you want to be a major contributor to greenhouse gasses and fluorocarbons, recycle all your plastic water bottles.
If you love trees, waste a shit-load of paper. No one plants more trees than paper companies.
I only recycle aluminum and other scrap metals, because recycling scrap metals actually makes environmental and economic sense.
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gluke bastid
Stinky Bum



Registered: 12/20/00
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Re: Recycling [Re: Diploid]
#7446330 - 09/24/07 12:12 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Diploid said: They determined that a single 11 x 11 mile landfill (a relatively tiny area) is large enough to contain all the garbage the US produces in 100 years.
I don't believe this for a second until I see some proof.
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Society in every form is a blessing, but government at its best is but a necessary evil - Thomas Paine
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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OK, I just did a little research and pretty much confirmed this.
According to the EPA web site (http://www.epa.gov/garbage/facts.htm) the US produces 250 million tons of garbage per year. At 60 feet deep, a landfill requires 8 square feet of land to store one ton of garbage.
250 million tons per year at 8 square feet per ton = 31 million square feet of land are required to store the garbage produced by the US in one year.
31 million square feet is 1.1 square mile, so an 11 x 11 mile landfill 60 feet deep will contain all the garbage the US produces in 100 years. The numbers work out exactly as Penn and Teller said.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger



Registered: 03/12/02
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Loc: Pandurn
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All parties involved do have an economic incentive to participate. Wal*Mart has been kicking ass with the sustainability initiatives it has been pushing. Wal*Mart now recycles plastic with their cardboard bales, each super bale making the store a profit of $500, whereas, before, they had to pay someone to trash it.
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If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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afoaf
CEO DBK?



Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 32,665
Loc: Ripple's Heart
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Re: Recycling [Re: Diploid]
#7447189 - 09/24/07 10:21 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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sweeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttt
I'm about to start consuming like a motherfucker!
-------------------- All I know is The Growery is a place where losers who get banned here go.
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