BLOG 8

January 15, 2015

            Today we were assigned to read Chapter 5: Extended Plastics Responsibility Producers as Reluctant Stewards from the text Recycling Reconsidered: The Present Failure and Future Promise of Environmental Action in the United States by Samantha MacBride. The chapters discuss how over the years with our modern disposing techniques have resulted in sets of rules for recycling, throwing out trash and etc. In this chapter MacBride shifts her focus to specifically plastics.

            In the text, MacBride mentions a architect named Jill Fehrenbacher who created a blog titled the “Green Rant,” in her blog she discusses about the New York City’s curbside recycling program accepted on plastics bottle and jugs. She argues why the residents are not allowed to put other plastic containers because at the end of the day it is all recyclable and all worth the same value. This is a very valid argument. This can agitate the consumers and can make them more confused in what is properly recyclable. Some might believe that margined tubs, deli containers and more are probably not even meant to be recycled. This is how confusion is created and people will choose not to recycle due to “modern rules” I think New York city should reconsider their recycling program and accept all recyclable containers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with accepting all plastics and in fact can give thee recyclable companies money and help New York City be a bit greener.  In addition for the city to make sure residents recycle properly and all the right stuff, they should be given incentives such as cash for recycling, or can be little prizes.

            In addition, MacBride informs readers that consumer who live in North America have plastic recyclable products with three chasing arrows that are symbolizes for recycling, however in reality these products are “not intended to be-nor ever promoted as a guarantee to consumers that a given item bearing the code will be accepted for recycling in their community,” (SPI 2010). This completely shocked me and really made me wonder then why do these products even have those symbols on their products if they do not expect consumers to recycle? This really shows how corrupt the system is and just care in making a high mass of production and money. This made me confuse because I have struggled with recycling, when I buy a bottle and of Starbucks I always see the “Please Recycle” sign and this makes me recycle, so this makes me question how other consumers dispose this product.

            All in all, recycling is clear issue with not only consumers but companies, as well as some cities. We as the people should speak on this topic and make changes to this problem.