Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
…the Earth which bore us and sustains us, the only paradise we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need, if only we had the eyes to see. ~Edward Abbey~
This post was originally shared on Substack.
Welcome to the latest section of From the Mind of an Introvert — Unpopular Opinions.
These will be relatively shorter posts(not this one) that will publish about every four days. These posts may ruffle some feathers. (that’s kind-of the point) If my words have that effect on you, let’s work together to come up with solutions that will benefit everyone!
We’re stronger together, Let’s do this!
Recycling, or lack of it, waste and consumerism is one of many huge problems faced by society. We overuse, overproduce and waste an inordinate amount of ‘stuff’, and the Earth is turning into a giant dumpster.
With this being a known issue along with rising costs to the consumer for essentially everything, why aren’t the companies producing the products that are contributing to the waste and pollution problems being held responsible for it? Why is it left up to the already overburdened consumer?
The consumer not only — purchases the product but is responsible(mostly) for the disposal of the packaging and/or product when its use expires. Many people are paying recycling, trash fees and taxes yet, the problem is getting… worse? Granted over consumption is a known issue, but why aren’t these conglomerate corporations required to use biodegradable or re-useable packaging and or materials to help lessen the impact?
It seems nearly everything ‘man’ has tried to re-create from what nature already provided to be ‘better or easier’ has actually been so much worse.
For example, single-use plastics and even the supposed reusable plastics and plastic-like products are far more toxic than we were led to believe.
The toxins that are in our food, soils, water sources, oceans and air are none other to blame than these rich and greedy corporations who mass produce, then offload for their profit along with the so-called governments and world leaders that continue to allow this to happen and once again, we the consumer suffer.
If we’re serious about the pollution, waste and toxins let’s start holding accountable those who are actually responsible for this systematic downfall of society.
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ne thing that’s particularly ridiculous is the so-called reusable plastic bags most states and stores are adopting.
(I can’t be the only one who sees this as utter bs and another way to bolster their bottom line and destroy life as we know it, ultimately.)
These thick ass plastic bags are even harder to break down and take even longer to begin to do so than what they were to be replacing. Not to mention the disgusting chemicals that are used to make these products releasing toxins that degrade into our soil, air and water.
They really were just another way to squeeze more money out of the consumer for no real benefit to anyone but the companies! And don’t get me started on the bottle taxes and the charges and costs associated with this shotty ass recycling system the United States has. What a joke right!?!
Here’s a perfect example.
I purchased a bottle of Simply Orange Juice and a bottle of Simply Lemonade. Both juices are from the same company. Both juice bottles appear relatively the same, apart from the label and contents and yet only one of the bottles is accepted to be “recycled”. The other just goes in the trash and off to the landfill or who knows where. The reasoning behind it, bottles containing 100% juice are ineligible to be recycled. Sad. Maybe they bottles could be returned to the companies, let them figure out how to dispose of them.
It would make so much more sense if everyone got glass bottles or containers to store their beverages in. You could also do this with food items.
It could work the way the water delivery services do. Most times, they refill and reuse the water cooler jugs. Stores could use devices like vending machines to dispense the chosen amount into the reusable container provided.
I mean, I feel like this would be a simple implementation that would cut down on these types of pollutants by close to 100%. Not only saving the consumer but also the future and the planet.
I also think in instances like the Funko landfil story — companies should be held responsible for this. Maybe pay a recycling tax (that can’t be written off, deducted or skirted in ANY WAY). Or be required to use biodegradable materials that are not harmful to us or our planet.
Another thing, if people were actually serious about these topics, they would start pressing on these conglomerate companies. Stop using their products. The best way to send a message is to spend your money elsewhere. As the consumers we are to be the ones driving the products to our choosing and liking. So many companies produce and use numerous toxic chemicals in their products and packaging that nearly anything you buy in the state of California has a warning label because of it. Why not stop buying products from companies that are using TOXIC shit?! Or, I don’t know, make the companies stop using these chemicals in their products. Sure, these companies using natural products are few and far between. But with incentives, more would arise, or the ones in place could be expanded. In addition, there are plenty with the means to make things like this happen. When they choose to participate in the betterment of the world rather than the destruction of it, the world can begin to become a better place. Tbc..
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🪶Introverted Sage
