Forums → WEPR → Should recycling be a law?

I think to some extent is should be a law. Most of my father's side of the family live in different places across Europe. Each country has different laws about trash. Germany, for example, requires for you to separate all your trash or you get a fine. I think it should be done. There is no reason why Americans cannot recycle as long as we aren't paying too much extra to have it.

Hmm, that's an interesting question.

There is no doubt that the world would be a much better place if we WERE forced to recycle, but how exactly do you enforce something like that?

Are they going to go through your trash to make sure you didn't throw a can or a bottle in there?

Raz, I don't exactly know. I know that my brother has received a fine because he didn't separate all the paper products from his other trash. They are serious about that stuff. They even fine you if you don't shovel the snow from your driveway and sidewalk.

*cough*nazis*cough*

I agree! The problems with trash on our land and oceans is awful. Especially with plastic, since it cannot be naturally decomposed.

I think that everyone who can recycle should. Choosing not too is an irresponsible decision in my eyes.

I don't think it would be that hard to keep your trash separated, especially if you build the habit.

i don't think we should be FORCED to recycle. but we should still recycle. it makes the world a better place. without water,air, and land pollution. recycling could help those problems.

Well if recycling could alleviate these problems, why shouldn't we be forced to recycle?

I doubt it would start a war (even though that would be quite humorous). Governments sometimes make laws to force us to do things that we should, even though they are not always right. I think forcing Americans to help the planet is the only way it can be done at this point. It doesn't take that much more energy to recycle as long as the made it easily accessible. Where I live it is currently expensive and very difficult to recycle.

because possibly if we are forced to do it, it is probably become a big thing in the US and start a war or something

well if we were forced to recycle garbage men would lose their jobs because most of the things we throw away are recyclables.

Well, those garbage men would be recycle men at that point. And probably better paid and probably enjoy their job more. Because I would assume that people have to use compost piles as well. So "garbage" wouldn't really stink as much.

Ha, I could imagine a war over recycling...

All the world powers in the U.N. are discussing how we all need need to recycle in order to save the world. After the whole thing is done and said, there is a tension in the air. In a corner of the room there are clearly marked trash and recylcing containers. The US Ambassador take his papers from the day and carelessly tosses them in the trash bin. Seeing this, the German and British Ambassadors bet the tar out of him. Then war!

Off topic, I know...but the scene popped into my head.

I think there's a fine line that this issue kinda tiptoe's around dealing with how far the government can legislate decisions like this.

Like I said, I definitely think that it would be a better idea if we WERE forced to recycle, but I know that there would have to be a grace period or something simply due to the fact that many people never recycle and wouldn't be able to switch overnight.

It's certainly irresponsible not to, but is it really the area of federal law?

Good point, but how else would you get people to actually recycle? Advertising and awareness can only go so far.

I think it would be a great idea to legislate it at a city level. Some cities already have recycling facilities but many don't. National legislation that mandated recycling would have to include some sort of subsidies to cities without the funds to build recycling centers. Also, people who live in rural areas would have a really hard time getting to any kind of centralized recycling center.
But I've been to plenty of cities where you get your trash can provided by the city as well as recycling bins for different products. I'm sure there is a huge initial start up cost for this, though.