3 ms·

If you believe this that deeply, then I'd expect you to have some evidence of the ineffectiveness of recycling – but all I'm seeing here is really rather a lot

If you believe this that deeply, then I'd expect you to have some evidence of the ineffectiveness of recycling – but all I'm seeing here is really rather a lot of nonsense. In the UK, for example, around 40% of plastic packaging waste is successfully recovered or recycled [1] It's obvious that this percentage must become higher, and that packaging waste overall should still be reduced. But by taking steps such as standardising materials, reducing colorants and promoting better treatment of recyclables by consumers, there's no obvious blocker to this percentage increasing further, with recycling remaining a useful tool to reduce the environmental impact of plastic consumption. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/593040/UK_statsonwaste_statsnotice_Dec2016_FINALv2_2.pdf https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm... – p19

andrewstuart 9y ago
You have entirely missed the point. Recycling is a smokescreen that distracts us from what the packaging industry is doing, which is filling the earth up with garbage. Recycling is the excuse mechanism via which we allow ourselves to ignore the packaging industry filling the world with garbage. It is precisely because recycling is half effective that it is such a good excuse for the packaging industry to hide behind. It's not entirely false! How perfectly magnificent for the packaging industry.... a distraction/smokescreen that isn't entirely untrue! You have made EXACTLY the argument that the packaging industry wants to hear you saying: "what the heck are you talkign about? Recycling is pretty darn good!". Now the focus is back on recycling, and yet again, the focus is AWAY from the industry that is constantly pouring garbage into the world. YOU want us to stop looking at the packaging industry and instead praise how 40% good recycling is. I won't do that. Consider not recycling, but all the garbage that doesn't go into recycling.... into the oceans, the drains, the streets etc etc etc. YOU are permitting them to get away with it by defending recycling, which is EXACTLY what the packaging industry wants and needs... people like you to stick up for recycling loudly so they can hide behind your loud defense, so the focus is now OFF them and back on recycling. Without these pointless arguments about recycling, people would be asking the question "Hey, why are we letting this industry pour a never ending supply of garbage into the world". You, sir, have been played like a guitar by the packaging industry. Please stop playing their game and instead hold the packaging industry to account.
- matthewmacleod 9y ago
  YOU want us to stop looking at the packaging industry and instead praise how 40% good recycling is. I won't do that. I won't response to the general ad-hominem, but I will point out that I said the exact opposite of that – that we need to reduce excess packaging.

andrewstuart 9y ago

You have entirely missed the point. Recycling is a smokescreen that distracts us from what the packaging industry is doing, which is filling the earth up with garbage. Recycling is the excuse mechanism via which we allow ourselves to ignore the packaging industry filling the world with garbage. It is precisely because recycling is half effective that it is such a good excuse for the packaging industry to hide behind. It's not entirely false! How perfectly magnificent for the packaging industry.... a distraction/smokescreen that isn't entirely untrue! You have made EXACTLY the argument that the packaging industry wants to hear you saying: "what the heck are you talkign about? Recycling is pretty darn good!". Now the focus is back on recycling, and yet again, the focus is AWAY from the industry that is constantly pouring garbage into the world. YOU want us to stop looking at the packaging industry and instead praise how 40% good recycling is. I won't do that. Consider not recycling, but all the garbage that doesn't go into recycling.... into the oceans, the drains, the streets etc etc etc. YOU are permitting them to get away with it by defending recycling, which is EXACTLY what the packaging industry wants and needs... people like you to stick up for recycling loudly so they can hide behind your loud defense, so the focus is now OFF them and back on recycling. Without these pointless arguments about recycling, people would be asking the question "Hey, why are we letting this industry pour a never ending supply of garbage into the world". You, sir, have been played like a guitar by the packaging industry. Please stop playing their game and instead hold the packaging industry to account.

matthewmacleod 9y ago
YOU want us to stop looking at the packaging industry and instead praise how 40% good recycling is. I won't do that. I won't response to the general ad-hominem, but I will point out that I said the exact opposite of that – that we need to reduce excess packaging.