I find the idea of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fascinating. I think it can change the way things are made in the first place. Just think, if a company knows that they will be (financially) responsible to provide a take back program or recycling program, how much more responsible they will be in the design of the product in the first place. Of course, it will remain the consumer’s job to purchase responsibly in the first place, but I think epr is a giant leap in the right direction. Yes, it will make products more expensive, but it will begin to shift the costs from all taxpayers (for your local landfill and waste officials) to the purchasers of these individual items(for the cost of the items its self).
In Illinois, the state legislature is deciding on the Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Act, I for one, hope it passes and starts a cascade of responsibility.
Plastic bags cannot disintegrate even after hundreds of years years and this is why we need to opt for eco-friendly packaging instead. Thankfully, there are those who make it a point to find ways in reusing or recycling products such as plastic and film. In any we can, we should try to reuse paper, plastic and even electronic gadgets to avoid wastage.
Plastic bags and films are not safe to recycle. When it pass in the recycling process these are more toxic which can effect the health of the users.
What is good about companies is that they do make an effort to show to others that they are not just for profit, they only want to show their support to the conservation of our natural resources in their own ways. Depending on the product or service of a certain provider, conservation acts or recycling programs can be encouraged. For paper, plastic as well as electronic gadgets – they can still serve a purpose and we can minimize garbage being dumped in land fills. Setting a good example is one thing but to actually help others to care is even better.
Illinois is actually making an effort to decrease plastics and making plastics 40 microns thick and making biodegradable plastic bags to lessen the strain of plastics in the environment.