For decades, consumers have been led to believe that recycling plastic saves on waste. Unfortunately, it’s not true, says Simon Wilson. And that could have big consequences for the oil business.
Now shifting to glass/readily biodegradable paper/cellulose/aluminum would probably be better, but let's be real.
Americans love their snacks and treats, they half-ass recycling anyways, when they hear "recycling doesn't work" they won't go beyond that, they'll just start chucking everything into the same pile (more than they already do).
That 'consumer guilt' over plastic use is driven by corporations themselves in order for them to re-frame themselves as environmental heroes--see the 'plastic-saving' caps on water bottles or whatever the fuck. It's a manufactured downer-upper combination mainlined right into progressive liberal ethics. Electric cars are better for the environment because they don't pollute--oh wait, yes they do, just father from consumer observation. Solar panels will save everyone, accept for the rare earth metals and slave labor used to get them and rapid obsolescence.
It, like everything else well-meaning, was recuperated and co-opted. Just an aesthetic now.
I think it's important to note many people do consume plastic under the assumption it is recycled, and if it isn't, it isn't my fault. Whereas people's attitudes would most likely change if they knew at the time of purchase that recycling was "a lie to make them consume". Maybe chuds don't care about the environment, but they still care about being deceived/scammed/manipulated. Giving responsibility at purchase rather than passing the buck to local government waste systems is a start.
I know it's a lib argument, (I know in most cases there is no alternative choice), but consuming from oil Co.'s means supporting oil Co.'s.
There are vast, vast areas of plastic use that humanity could just stop making/consuming and literally nobody would give a shit. Almost everything in your local grocery store will be in a land fill in 6 months to a year, 5 years on the outside. Most of it is single use garbage that is pushed onto the consumer so for something for them to buy; demand is pushed by advertising, consumer culture. Halloween and xmas decorations, for example, make up millions of tons of garbage every year for what amounts to single use decorations.
Nobody wants that shit. If it simply stopped being sold, literally nobody would even notice.
My point is you have to just make that shit illegal.
I mean, they'd miss it for about 5-7 years I think. Then new traditions would take shape and everyone would be fine. If you think chuds and Karens were mad about Starbucks cups saying "Happy Holidays" on them, just wait until BiG GoVeRnMeNt takes their decorations.
I for one would love to see some stained glass decorations come back into style.
Nobody is walking into a Lowes this time of year with "Giant inflatable pumpkin with a Santa Hat that goes 'Boo hoo ho'" on their shopping list. Its all impulse purchases, which is why they have to have them on display. Sure, a few karens, maybe, but I honestly think most people would simply never think about them again.
I guess I'm talking about a world where you could magically make them disappear without telling anyone and see if anyone notices. If it became a stupid idpol/culture war, yeah, you're definitely right.
That makes sense, I get what you mean when you provide that kind of example, and you're probably right. The key would be getting it banned/illegalized in the first place. Barring a successful revolutionary workers party coming to power, I see the culture war narrative as an inevitability. Capitalist class isn't just going to LET us have a cleaner and more humane existence, not when there's a buck to be made.
Now shifting to glass/readily biodegradable paper/cellulose/aluminum would probably be better, but let's be real.
Americans love their snacks and treats, they half-ass recycling anyways, when they hear "recycling doesn't work" they won't go beyond that, they'll just start chucking everything into the same pile (more than they already do).
That 'consumer guilt' over plastic use is driven by corporations themselves in order for them to re-frame themselves as environmental heroes--see the 'plastic-saving' caps on water bottles or whatever the fuck. It's a manufactured downer-upper combination mainlined right into progressive liberal ethics. Electric cars are better for the environment because they don't pollute--oh wait, yes they do, just father from consumer observation. Solar panels will save everyone, accept for the rare earth metals and slave labor used to get them and rapid obsolescence.
It, like everything else well-meaning, was recuperated and co-opted. Just an aesthetic now.
I think it's important to note many people do consume plastic under the assumption it is recycled, and if it isn't, it isn't my fault. Whereas people's attitudes would most likely change if they knew at the time of purchase that recycling was "a lie to make them consume". Maybe chuds don't care about the environment, but they still care about being deceived/scammed/manipulated. Giving responsibility at purchase rather than passing the buck to local government waste systems is a start.
I know it's a lib argument, (I know in most cases there is no alternative choice), but consuming from oil Co.'s means supporting oil Co.'s.
There are vast, vast areas of plastic use that humanity could just stop making/consuming and literally nobody would give a shit. Almost everything in your local grocery store will be in a land fill in 6 months to a year, 5 years on the outside. Most of it is single use garbage that is pushed onto the consumer so for something for them to buy; demand is pushed by advertising, consumer culture. Halloween and xmas decorations, for example, make up millions of tons of garbage every year for what amounts to single use decorations.
Nobody wants that shit. If it simply stopped being sold, literally nobody would even notice.
My point is you have to just make that shit illegal.
I mean, they'd miss it for about 5-7 years I think. Then new traditions would take shape and everyone would be fine. If you think chuds and Karens were mad about Starbucks cups saying "Happy Holidays" on them, just wait until BiG GoVeRnMeNt takes their decorations.
I for one would love to see some stained glass decorations come back into style.
Nobody is walking into a Lowes this time of year with "Giant inflatable pumpkin with a Santa Hat that goes 'Boo hoo ho'" on their shopping list. Its all impulse purchases, which is why they have to have them on display. Sure, a few karens, maybe, but I honestly think most people would simply never think about them again.
I guess I'm talking about a world where you could magically make them disappear without telling anyone and see if anyone notices. If it became a stupid idpol/culture war, yeah, you're definitely right.
That makes sense, I get what you mean when you provide that kind of example, and you're probably right. The key would be getting it banned/illegalized in the first place. Barring a successful revolutionary workers party coming to power, I see the culture war narrative as an inevitability. Capitalist class isn't just going to LET us have a cleaner and more humane existence, not when there's a buck to be made.