Comment by emmelaich | Hacker News Reader

Comment by emmelaich | Hacker News Reader

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Absolutely. If they were actually doing worthwhile recycling they would be proudly publishing statistics on it.

We're told to put plastic/metal in one bin and paper in the other. But this includes pizza boxes with bits of food on it; things like pringle cans which are a mixture of paper and metal. And there is all sorts of plastics.

It's simply not believable that they have an efficient means of separating and recycling this mess.

They even have trouble recycling glass; surely the easiest to recycle. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-07/recycling-companies-fo...

Also relevant: http://theconversation.com/australian-recycling-plants-have-...

I believe there's regulatory capture or at least heavy revolving door activity. Politicians retiring and then being put on the board of recycling companies.

And we subsidise them: http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/business-r...

From your profile "I'm also fascinated in the psychology of belief."

If the environmental movement can come to understand how its belief in recycling in fact subverts its goals of environmental protection then the world will start to change.

That's the big thing; when I express doubt about the worth of separating our rubbish into the recycling bins to my wife I get dirty looks at best!

Belief in recycling allows people to avoid the deeply bothering question of why we allow packaging companies to create an infinite flow of garbage. Much of which of course ends up not in ANY recycle bin but throughout the ecosystem.

"I feel OK, I recycle, it's the best we can do."

Aren't we better served by question consumption broadly and our modes of consumption specifically, rather than questioning recycling?

You have both done well to articulate that it doesn't feel right, but do you have any actual proof against the value of recycling? And I don't mean trade-offs, I acknowledge recycling isn't perfect, but there are plenty of statistics that prove it is worthwhile.

To be honest I'm not completely sure. I'd be very interested in those statistics if you can find them.

If you can't find them ... that would tell you something.

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