Waste is frighteningly common in today's society. Here are just some of the reasons for it. They are in no particular order.
- Taking too much
- Not taking care of it
- Too much manufactured
- Packaging
- People are lazy
- A new version replaces the old one
- Comes in too big a package
- Using reusable item as single use items
- Accidents
- Used as should and finished being useful
Taking too much
First, people tend to take more than they need. The way our economy works, merchants almost always offer discounts on larger quantities of items. If one item costs $5, they might charge $8 for two.
A consumer looks at the price and thinks, “If I spend $5 on one, but I can get two for $4 each, I'd be a fool to buy just one!”
Of course, that's what the marketers want you to think. If it is a product you use often, then it's probably true; you would be a fool to buy just one.
The problem is that often it's not a product that you use often, and you've just wasted your money buying a product that gets wasted because you end up not using it. Maybe you had enough after the first one, or maybe you didn't like it at all, and both items are wasted.
This situation occurs all the time. But as wasteful as that is, it's even worse when something's on sale buy one get one free. It's really hard to resist getting something for free.
And what if something is free to begin with? That can be even more difficult to pass up.
When I was in college, I went to a lot of conferences where there were dozens of booths giving out free information, pens, stickers, tote bags, and more. Some of the stuff I did use, but some I toted around with me for years before finally dumping it in the recycling bin.
Not taking care of it
Waste is often the result of people not taking care of their stuff. I didn't realize how big a problem this is until I started watching people check out their own items at the self checkouts at the box store I worked for.
People would frequently drop their (often breakable) stuff into a bag from a height of a foot or more above the bag. I began to marvel at how any of these things made it home with these people. One time I saw a man put a crate of 18 eggs in a bag and then drop - literally drop - a gallon of milk on top of it!
Too much manufactured
Retail can be a tricky game. It's hard to know how much product you're going to sell. Sometimes you order way too much.
Sometimes that overstock gets sold at a discount, but sometimes retailers decide to cut their losses by disposing of the product in the trash. Yes, a lot of perfectly good products go straight to the trash bin. It should be a crime.
Packaging
Packaging materials are on the line between useful and unnecessary. Some packaging is needed for a lot of things. (Try transporting a liquid without a container!)
But oftentimes there is a lot more material used in packaging than is necessary.
This seems like the perfect application for recycling. It would be, but so many packaging materials are not recyclable.
Furthermore, a lot of people don't recycle at all. The system only works if people use it. And in some places it's not even an option.
Reducing packaging at the source and making sure what is used can be recycled are imperative.
People are lazy
Sometimes waste happens because people are too damn lazy to care.
It takes a miniscule amount of thought and energy to flip a light switch off, yet many people don't do it. Sinful.
And this happens all the time with all kinds of simple fixes.
A new version replaces the old one
These days it seems like a new version of your phone, car, video game, or something is coming out constantly. The new one is only minutely different from the old one, yet many people feel the need to upgrade immediately. This can lead to a lot of waste.
Comes in too big a package
This reason for waste is similar to the first one, people taking too much. Sometimes it's not the consumer but the manufacturer who causes excess to be taken.
There have been many occasions when I wanted just a small amount of something, but all I could find was a big package.
This causes a dilemma: should I get more than I want or do without?
Sometimes waste seems better than the alternative.
Using reusable items as single use items
This one blows my mind! It really never occurred to me that people would do this until I saw the same people buying reusable shopping bags week after week.
And to make things worse, they weren't even using the reusable shopping bags properly. They were putting plastic bags full of groceries inside the reusable bags. Talk about waste!
Then I learned that some people do the same thing with reusable water bottles. They don't keep track of where they put it, so instead of trying to find it, they just buy another one. The same is true for umbrellas.
Some people use all kinds of things once and then throw them out instead of passing them on to someone else. It's commonly done with games and puzzles and all kinds of things.
Accidents
Sometimes accidents happen. Things break. People drop stuff. Life goes on.
But there is a difference between a genuine accident and carelessness. Carelessness can be avoided.
So, sometimes waste just happens. It's not ideal, but it's not the end of the world.
Used as should and finished being useful
This is the best kind of waste! It's the only kind we should have to deal with regularly. Although, planned obsolescence is a real problem.
Ideally, things would be made to be broken down and recycled, but, sadly, that is rarely the case.
Most things are taken to the curb and never thought about again.
Of course, from there they go to the landfill or incinerator, where they are never heard from again. Unfortunately, they do take up space and cause pollution. Those are topics for another day.
These were just some of the reasons for waste. I'm sure we could come up with more.
But whatever the reason is, waste production is a real problem that is often easily avoided.
With a little bit of thought and a tiny bit of effort, we can do better.
Some waste creation is inevitable. But a lot is avoidable. Please join me in my effort to reduce the amount of waste I am responsible for. If we all contribute to the solution rather than the problem, the future stands a chance.
If you know of another source of waste, please leave a comment.
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