Our Role in Consumption and Recycling Essay - 4314 Words

Our Role in Consumption and Recycling We all know that this country produces quite a lot of stuff. Goods and services, we’re the economically-dominant country in the world. U.S. corporate power makes, the world takes. But with all this production, all these goods, comes a need to dispose of what we consider to be no longer useful. Some of it is in fact useful, some of it isn’t. But the fact is, we throw away a lot of stuff. Compared to the rest of the world, we dispose of goods much like we market them –tremendously disproportional. Each American produces about 4.4 lbs. of trash every day, costing our municipalities a total of $23 billion annually; this is far more waste than that of any other Westernized nation. (Columbia†¦show more content†¦There is no need to accept 25% or 35% recycled, because 100% serves most purposes completely. To save energy and to save trees- and all the animals that depend on the trees- it is imperative that recycled paper become the norm. Recycling aluminum can reap great benefits as well, reducing monetary as well as environmental costs. To make cans from recovered aluminum, for example, requires 10% of the energy needed to make them from virgin ore. This simultaneously saves ore as well as the pollution resulting from mining and processing. One of the more dangerous and subtle forms of pollution from normal aluminum extraction is the byproduct of Fluorine. Fluorine is the most reactive element on the Periodic Table. Many scientific studies have found it to be an endocrine disrupter (Connett). Endocrine disrupters like this one mimic estrogen and are suspected of causing breast cancer, low sperm counts, early puberty, and interference with fetal development (Quinion). Furthermore, this fluorine (as we know it, in fluoride form) has been found to leech lead from pipes (Masters). It is very dangerous to expose oneself to, especially through ingestion. Yet it is continuously released into water systems under the pretens e of helping to clean teeth. Considering these major benefits - or, rather, avoidance of risk- of recycling aluminum,Show MoreRelatedRubbish Theory Essay1362 Words   |  6 PagesOutline the ways in which rubbish can be said to have value in a consumer society. A consumer society is increasingly organized around consumption of goods and leisure, rather than the production of materials and services. It rests on consuming material goods as a supreme characteristic of value. Therefore individuals who do not consume are viewed as undervalued. Peoples consumer choices (taste and style) are seen to be indicators of who they are as a person and of their moves within the gamesRead MoreEssay about Trash Talk1472 Words   |  6 Pagessomething in the trash bin, stop and consider where well your garbage end up, most likely in an over-crowded landfill. 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