That's a fairly small part of the problem. Think of all the other stuff westerners take for granted: - plastic wrapping on goods - frequent replacement of elec

That's a fairly small part of the problem. Think of all the other stuff westerners take for granted: - plastic wrapping on goods - frequent replacement of electronic devices - rapidly changing wardrobe - waste inherent in eating out - large quantity of meat in diet The western lifestyle is far more expensive than, say, African or central Asian lifestyles. We consume far more than other cultures. Improving mass transit would certainly help, but the crux of the issue is that it's a culture issue.