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> Corporations like recycling because it promotes growth -- the opposite of reduction. I don't think this is strictly true. It certainly is not the explanation
by shkkmo 7y ago
> Corporations like recycling because it promotes growth -- the opposite of reduction.
I don't think this is strictly true. It certainly is not the explanation for why we have most of the recycling programs we do have.
Overpaying for unnecessary recycling reduces growth. Economically efficient recycling increases it.
Both corporations and environmentalists should support efficient recycling and oppose innefficient recycling.
There may be some methods of recycling that are environmentally efficient but economically inefficient, but that would be due to externalities that need to be regulated anyway.
The issue of expecting and engineering unending growth is an interesting topic but doesn't really have anything to do with this article.
- Thorrez 7y ago>Both corporations and environmentalists should support efficient recycling and oppose innefficient recycling. Are you saying that's what corporations should morally do, or that that's what they should logically do to increase profits? It could be that a corporation saying "buy our stuff then recycle it" causes more people to buy the stuff than saying "buy our stuff then throw it away". In that situation, a profit motivated corporation would promote recycling even if it hurts the environment.
- shkkmo 7y agoI'm speaking of broad interest categories. Obviously aluminum mining companies aren't going be in favor of aluminum recycling, but in general, lower aluminum prices increase economic growth potential and should be supported by other companies in general purely out of self-interest.
- rtpg 7y ago> There may be some methods of recycling that are environmentally efficient but economically inefficient, but that would be due to externalities that need to be regulated anyway Are there many known examples of this? Kinda curious about what shape this problem takes in context
- btomtom5 7y agoIf the alternative to recycling is reduction by creating products that last longer, then recycling would increase profits and growth.