In recent months, our attentions have understandably been focused on legislation, and the challenges and opportunities afforded by changes like Simpler Recycling and the coming Deposit Return Scheme. While regulations can have a sweeping impact, our individual actions drive many of the predicaments facing society. It’s important to remember that we each possess the power to bring about change.
Sometimes these actions can be as straightforward as not throwing our rubbish onto the ground. Historically, we have thanked and praised those who perform at the most basic level of citizenship by not littering. I think that instead, we should call out those who choose to pollute our environment. Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Don’t be a tosser’ campaign is a great example of how changing the narrative around litter can change attitudes.
Similarly, the language and instructions we apply to waste can unconsciously help to perpetuate over-consumerism. Working in waste, we are always trying to find the best way to deal with items and materials that present themselves. Whether it arrives in household or street bins, at a household waste recycling centre, or is simply dumped in a layby, it is our job to dispose of waste. With advances in technology and innovation – and let’s not forget the effort put in by people working in resource management – the industry has made huge strides in recent years. We find new ways to recycle, and reuse is now accepted as a mainstream goal.
However, when we donate or re-sell items, there is a danger that we may perpetuate the illusion that consumption is harmless.
For example, you might think that buying unnecessary new clothes is acceptable as long as you donate the ones you no longer want. But this is not necessarily the case.
When we reuse or pass on an item, one of three outcomes is likely:
- Someone doesn’t buy something new – this is the best-case outcome.
- The availability of cheaper second-hand items fuels someone else’s over-consumption.
- Items are not reused but end up being sent for recycling or disposal.
Of course, reuse items are a lifeline for many people struggling through poverty. But we cannot assume that our unwanted items will be in demand. In this case, items sent for reuse may only make over-consumption more palatable. We are simply shifting responsibility onto someone else.
If we want to create meaningful change, it’s time to rethink our relationship with consumption. We need to foster a more thoughtful attitude to consumption, only buy what we need and ensure that we keep it until its true end of life. Reuse is part of the solution, but it cannot be the only answer. The real challenge is to consume consciously.
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