Why is the finger always pointed to the consumer/citizen when it comes to recycling and not manufacturers?

Question

Thanks for the great answers, I had no idea about some of the stuff being given to good will . Thats great, the last I had heard it was all thrown away,I figured they would rather throw stuff away if they couldn't make a dollar off it.

Thank you all now I don't feel like giving up lol.

Answer 1

I agree with you. There should be blame on the manufacturers, but they have to shift the blame somewhere else, so it ends on us consumers. But the secret is that consumers pretty much dictate what gets made. If we would stop buying all this worthless junk, then they would have to stop making it. Unfortunately we live in a consumerist society, so it will be hard to convince people to stop buying like there's no tomorrow!

Check out these sites which I know you will enjoy:

Answer 2

I can't stay quiet any longer about the politics of this land.  I have been contacting my senators and congressman about a couple of issues, and they were very glad to hear from me.  Here are the 2 issues:



1.  The senate is voting soon on the Supplemental Spending Bill for the Iraq War, and Diane Feinstein put in an amendment to grant amnesty to 1 million ILLEGAL immigrants because the produce is not getting picked in time.  Our economy is in so much trouble, and there are lots of LEGAL citizens that need the money and would be willing to work in agriculture.  There are plenty of youth that need good, hard-working jobs to earn them the money they need for college, cars, etc.  Feinstein's amendment is very inappropriate.  Once you start the amnesty policy, there will be no end.  I just saw a presentation on how excessive immigration will undo our country in many ways...too far to mention.



2.  Our country has lots of oil reserves in many states and out in the surrounding oceans.  We have the technology to drill for it in a responsible way to conserve the environment.  The Dakotas, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah have oil shale that can be successfully developed for oil, and the Energy Policy of 2005 directed the BLM to lease these lands to those willing to develop the shale oil.  Now a moratorium was imposed as part of the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2008 to NOT allow the BLM to lease land for shale oil development.



It is my opinion that we should be calling our representatives and letting them know we will not vote for them if they don't allow us to glean our own oil resources in our own land and help our own people and our economy.  To go begging to Saudi Arabia for more oil is humiliating and unnecessary.  This is the biggest transfer of wealth in the history of the world to take our money by the billions and give it to countries that are not friendly to us and then prohibit our own people from providing for themselves.



I have sent this out to many in different states.  If we each do our part, and spread the word, something can be done about this situation.  We the people are still in charge if we will take the responsibility.  I had a very good experience calling my representatives, both Republican and Democrat.  Their phone numbers were in the phone directory.  



Thanks for reading, and I hope you will take action.

Answer 3

I complain with my feet.  If I don't like something in the market place, I walk away.  They can't hear you complain--the cash registers are making too much noise.

Answer 4

Give up? There are some great answers here.  

I know alot of items from stores go out to places like Good Will for resale.  I know alot of artists that collect alot of "stuff" to turn into new items.  Recently, I heard of a toy store or museum that ihas just parts of old toys,  Kids can come in and build a new toy.I have also written to companies that I like and told em to reduce the amount of pkging they use.  It has come along way in the last 20 years.  We are on our way,,,just needs cooperation for the masses.

Answer 5

IN AMERICA, ITS UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO RECYCLE. I ONLY RECYCLE ALUMINUM, BUT I BUY SELECTIVELY, LIKE FROZEN VEGTABLES IN PLASTIC BAGS, OTHER FOOD IN BOXES AND ALUMINUM. I GO TO THE DUMP ONCE EVERY 3 MONTHS AND WE'RE TOLD TO BURN OUR GARBAGE. MANUFACTURERS RE-MAKE FROM THE RECYCLED AND IF ITS MANDATORY, WHICH I DOUBT. TELL THE COMPANY THATS NOT RE-CYCLING THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH THEIR GARBAGE LOOKING FOR RECYCLABLES EVERY SO OFTEN. THAT WLL STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT.

Answer 6

The finger is always pointed at us because we buy it.   Plain and simple.

Now, oil....we don't use ours now because we can make trillions in the future when the rest of the world is tapped out.  Silly reasoning when we are going green in so many ways. I drive a Prius (incredible car).  Americans were spoiled by low prices, now we match the rest of the world. We need to stop acting like spoiled rich kids.  

Goodwill is amont the worst as far as charity.  The execs make bank $$$$.  The unsold merch also ends up in Ross, Savers, Big Lots, etc...

Lastly...the comic strip "For Better or Worse" depicted the wife busy busy busy gathering all the recycling in the house, then driving down the industrial smoke stack pollution prone city to drop it off...your statement exactly.

Answer 7

I moved to Marble Falls TX, a small town, 5 yrs ago in an attempt to be more "green". I have worked in a job that allows me to walk or ride my bike every day. This was my plan before I moved here and so far it's working out very well. I spend about $20.00 a month (max) on gasoline. I try to recycle everything but I'm sad to say that there seems to be very few people in my community who care about the environment - in fact I have been called a treehugger and looked down at for my beleifs. I will wear the label of treehugger with GREAT pride! I am not sure anymore if we can turn back the tide of destuction that is going to change our quality of life but for the health of my own spirit - I Will Not Give Up.

I see "stuff" that someone else could use get sent to the landfill all the time and I keep thinking there has to be a better way... I was delighted to find a freecycling group thru yahoo that has over 500 members in my area! Wow - there is hope! Now if we could get the grocery stores to sell more bulk items think how much less trash there would be!

  Yes, we do have our own oil here in TX but we also have a massive genorator in the sky called the SUN. Please visit: oraclegreen.tv for more great alternative fuel ideas.

Thanks, I feel better already!