What might have happened if recycling hadn't become popular?

Question

What might have happened if recycling hadn't become popular?

Answer 1

Nothing, recycling has caused more greenhouse gas than would have been produced by just putting the stuff in a landfill. Remember, recycling needs electricity and in most cases that comes from fossil fuels. There are pros and cons to everything. If they came up with a recycling facility that worked solely on renewable energy, then that would make a true difference.

Answer 2

Nothing,  how much longer do you think third world Asian countries will put up with us dumping our "recycled" rubbish on them, and can you guess how much we pay them to "dispose" of the rubbish in landfills & incinerators

Answer 3

Recycling is just another way for people to make millions out of us. think about it we recycle it  they sell it back to us. who`s the dummy`s. nothing comes cheaper . through recycling

Answer 4

This is more in response to the person that first responded.  Are you seriously telling me that the greenhouse emissions from recycling outweigh the benefits of recycling?  Sure there are two sides to everything, but that is the stupidest statement I've ever read.

Answer 5

The world would have become a huge bin in a shorter time. it is still a bin with recycling but the effect takes longer

Answer 6

not much less than what was happening before

Answer 7

Aloha from Down Unda!

The flaw of the question is that it's assumed that recycling is popular.  Recycling is not popular.  Recycling paper, bottles & cans is boarderline 'effective' & probably a severe waste of effort!

Being 'conservative', 'thrifty' & 'aware' have always been condusive to good management but the new, modern, 'Naderish' recycling is merely a counter-productive ploy removing focus of much more important issues.  

What's going to happen is less concern of recycling & more concern of aquisition of food!

Best wishes