Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
You know, I think from my perspective its
the least complex way of getting participation up
So, its in easy measure and an easy comparison tool
So, I think that's the reason why it's been the focus for so long
I think people have tried to use other methods
but I don't think anything works as
simply as a compartive tool than
just increase recycling rates.--- Yeah,
I'd have to agree with that. I have combed through the literature to try and
find empirical results of
diminishing per capita waste generation through
you know policies to promote buying in bulk or other types of voluntary measures
and
it's very hard to bring about
on waste prevention! Very hard to bring about on a voluntary level. On the
other hand,
things like taxes and fees specifically on
on plastic bags have been shown to diminish consumption
of those materials. So, that would be a an alternate way
to get materials
out of the stream going to disposal.--- Those are real interesting points and I
certainly
agree with those. However, I feel maybe
there should be more of an emphasis on the aspect of sustainability, which recycling
is a part of it and focusing on not doing something isn't important. I think
focusing on
doing things - we talk about diversion from the landfill,
and I believe even diverting from the recycling stream
by reducing waste in the first place, reducing that generation
is a very meritorious effort. It may be harder to measure.
We can look at put-out rates and
waste generation rates and I think recycling is a good thing to have some
focus on, but more important that I even think
sustainability principles using the triple bottom line such as
people, profit, and planet
is kind of a bigger goal.--- We are having a little bit of a technical issue with Kate. Kate do you
want to
chat your comment
---- Well I think you know, the industry as a whole has done an
incredible job over the past ten years
on their light weighting of packaging
and that's something that most people aren't even aware
I think the one area where people kind of see it a little bit is that in
plastic water bottles - the disposable ones. People can kind of
tell when they're empty. They feel pretty flimsy.
But, with the exception of that a lot of people don't even notice some of the light weighting
that's occurring
in the industry. So, I think there has
already been a lot of success achieved in that area,
but I think there are product stewardship issues
targetted materials that still can be
focus of some future efforts