Times up for face value recycling

In early 2018, China began enforcing it’s 2017 decision to refuse almost half the world’s plastic recyclables

(Originally published January 2018) Given the sheer volume of plastic produced, used and disposed of every single day, many countries are already stockpiling their plastic waste while they figure out who’s going to take it now.

With the detrimental effects of one-use-plastic already taking its toll on our environment and health, China’s ban might just be the push we all need to radically change our behaviour.

“China doesn’t want to be the rest of the world’s trash can. Over the summer, regulators in Beijing started an unusually intense crackdown on what they called “foreign garbage,” citing health and environmental concerns.”—Mike Ives, The New York Times

We rely heavily on recycling to deal with our mountains of pre- and post-consumer waste. While it’s provided a partial solution to this enormous problem, it doesn’t seem to have made much of a dent in our landfills and hasn’t really changed our behaviour around consumption.

WE THINK WASTE IS THE PROBLEM, WHEN REALLY IT’S THE FACT THAT WE BUY AND THROW AWAY FAR TOO MUCH. AND, THIS IN TURN FEEDS THE MANUFACTURING MACHINE, MAKING MORE STUFF WE DON’T NEED, WHICH WE BUY AND THROW AWAY.

A recent article by ekko.world, talks about our current recycling conundrum keeping us on the consumerist treadmill. Without even being conscious of it, we’re using Casual Recycle-ism as a panacea for our waste problem, and continue to consume as usual. When we take that jacket or pair of shoes to the local charity shop, we appease our conscience and relinquish any guilt we may have about the role we play in fast fashion and the resulting waste mounting up around us.

Of course its great to donate to charity. Hopefully someone will benefit and it’s a better choice than sending our unwanted clothes straight to landfill. But often, second-hand clothes go unsold and are sent offshore. And, even Africa doesn’t want to be the dumping ground for our poor quality clothing anymore. Oh, and then, we go out and buy something else we don’t need, which is unwittingly earmarked for landfill from the very day we bought it. And, the cycle continues.

“AS WE ALL STAND KNEE DEEP IN A GROWING PILE OF PLASTIC BOTTLES, SHOPPING BAGS AND PACKAGING, MORE AND MORE CONSUMERS, AND THEY AREN’T ALL DEEP GREENS, ARE COMING TO REALISE THAT RECYCLING IS A BIT LAST YEAR.”—EKKO.WORLD

In many ways, Minimalism, gives us clear direction to create a life that is about living more and buying less. When we realise we need very few possessions to live and be happy and we can make choices as consumers that look after people and the planet, we not only feel really good, we save money, time, resources and further damage to our environment.

My prediction for 2018? That the movement to refuse fast fashion and one-use-plastic will become the new black. It’s already started. This won’t be a short-lived trend. This will become the new normal. Join me and become part of a movement that will change our future for the better.

x KT