The Four ‘Rs’

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle… and Rhetoric

I try to focus on reduction strategies with this blog. I have been wading through the websites of government boards this morning and there seems to always be a focus on recycling. I guess one problem is that it is hard to measure reduction. The Integrated Waste Management Board of California is proud of the fact that they have achieved a diversion rate of 52%, as of 2005. Californians create 92 million tons of waste each year. 52% of that means BIG BUSINESS for recycling companies. Reduction does not mean big business for anybody. That’s not entirely true, companies that make alternative products that facilitate reduction would see an increase.