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Recycling and waste disposal: Difference between revisions
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Recycling is not the ideal way to reduce waste. [[Reuse]] (see [[modular hardware]] in particular) is better. And [[material conservation]], which includes designing things to go more slowly [[obsolete]], is better yet. And requiring [[product take-back]] by the manufacturer puts the responsibility for this exactly where it belongs, where the design and modularity can really be dealt with, and, where an [[industrial ecology]] can evolve to do it better and use '''waste as a resource.''' | Recycling is not the ideal way to reduce waste. [[Reuse]] (see [[modular hardware]] in particular) is better and more [[nature friendliness|nature friendly]]. And [[material conservation]], which includes designing things to go more slowly [[obsolete]], is better yet. And requiring [[product take-back]] by the manufacturer puts the responsibility for this exactly where it belongs, where the design and modularity can really be dealt with, and, where an [[industrial ecology]] can evolve to do it better and use '''waste as a resource.''' | ||
However, recycling is a very good starting point for gathering and dispensing important information since the better knowledge people have on how recycling works the more likely is that they will do it and the better they can help the people working for the recycling industry such as collectors and processors. Working together we can make recycling more pleasant and efficient. And, we can exploit the opportunities that manufacturers fail to take for themselves. | However, recycling is a very good starting point for gathering and dispensing important information since the better knowledge people have on how recycling works the more likely is that they will do it and the better they can help the people working for the recycling industry such as collectors and processors. Working together we can make recycling more pleasant and efficient. And, we can exploit the opportunities that manufacturers fail to take for themselves. | ||
In theory, recycling would be a continuing reuse of materials for the same purpose, but in practice much recycling extends the useful life of a material, but in a less versatile form. For example, as paper is recycled, the fibers shorten, making it less useful for higher grade papers. Other materials can suffer from contamination, making them unsuitable for food packaging. | |||
Recycling information is very location sensitive since the state of recycling systems vary highly from place to place, but it's a good starting place. We can work from recycling and correct [[waste disposal]] bacwards up the consumption chain without getting engulfed in a swamp of lies right in the begining. | Recycling information is very location sensitive since the state of recycling systems vary highly from place to place, but it's a good starting place. We can work from recycling and correct [[waste disposal]] bacwards up the consumption chain without getting engulfed in a swamp of lies right in the begining. | ||