"Recycle". - it's a really a bit of an unpleasant business. It's something the consumer has to do, and it's their fault if they don't. But the thing is, companies determine the condition and methods by which something will be sold. I never got a choice as to whether I bought soft drinks in glass bottles or plastic ones. One day in the 80s, when I was a kid, we suddenly started to get plastic soda bottles. I never asked for it, and neither did anyone I know. But it's apparently my job to ensure it's recycled. Which is something over which I have no control once I put it in the correct bin. I'd happily take a re-usable bottle to the store to buy soda & the fact that soda fountains exist in practically every fast-food outlet in the developed world states that it could be sold that way. However, the companies don't want to - possibly because then it would be unbranded & I wouldn't be walking around with their brand on my bottle. Which then becomes my problem to recycle and everyone's problem if I don't.
But - what is this talk of recycling? isn't it better to either re-use something or simply go without it? - recycling is often a way for us to attach a earning potential to re-using things. Some things do need recycling (that is, remanufacturing) in order to be useful again. But many things can just be re-used "as is", perhaps after a wash. No, the message for recyling is "give it back to us (after we sold it to you) and we'll sell it to you again later".
For me. The whole creed of "recycle" is being over-sold and it should instead say "re-use". But. Nobody makes money when you do that, so it won't happen.
But - what is this talk of recycling? isn't it better to either re-use something or simply go without it? - recycling is often a way for us to attach a earning potential to re-using things. Some things do need recycling (that is, remanufacturing) in order to be useful again. But many things can just be re-used "as is", perhaps after a wash. No, the message for recyling is "give it back to us (after we sold it to you) and we'll sell it to you again later".
For me. The whole creed of "recycle" is being over-sold and it should instead say "re-use". But. Nobody makes money when you do that, so it won't happen.
I'm still in part shock that Prince Harry has decided to become an environmental warrior, but we need more people like him have the penny drop on just how close to the brink we all really are, it's progress and it gives us a small chance to make the changes we need to in time to stop self-extinction.