Examining historical methods of managing waste can inspire and inform modern day packaging innovations that prevent waste from entering a landfill. In North America during the 1880s, most packaging was reused. Broken packaging was mended or transformed into new products. For example, a barrel might be transformed into a chair. Previous generations conserved and reused materials, and thus produced less waste
What the law does is require manufacturers and large retailers to pay for the recycling of their packaging. The less packaging they produce, and the more readily and easily it is to recycle what they do produce, the less the companies will pay to the state to cover the costs of that recycling. The monies the state collects from the program are to be passed down to the cities and towns to defray the local recycling program costs.
In Maine, packaging products covered by the law make up as much as 40 percent of the waste stream.
In both states, one important benefit of the program is that it will make recycling more uniform statewide. Today, recycling is a patchwork, with variations between cities about what can be thrown in the recycling bin.
These programs exist on a spectrum from producer-run and producer-controlled, to government-run. In Maine, the government is taking the lead, having the final say on how the program will be run, including setting the fees. In Oregon, the producer responsibility organization is expected to involve manufacturers to a larger degree, including them on an advisory council.
In another key difference, Maine is also requiring producers to cover 100 percent of its municipalities’ recycling costs. Oregon, by contrast, will require producers to cover around 28 percent of the costs of recycling, with municipalities continuing to cover the rest.
Vance Packard’s The Wastemakers from 1961 remind us what recycling ♻ is all about. Especially the kind so gleefully promotes by “socially responsible” corporations pushing their PFOA soaked clothing, their styrofoam plates and tetrapacks.
Conveniently located throughout the mart are receptacles where the people can dispose of the old-fashioned products they bought on a previous shopping trip. In the jewelry section, for example, a playfully designed sign by a receptacle reads: “Throw your old watches here!”