I can't say for certain what happened to our environmental consciousness, but I can hazard a guess. At least in part, it's because convenience became the new mantra. If an eco-friendly practice is not too much trouble, we still do it. For example, separating bottles and cans for recycling is a habit most of us have kept. But if an activity is inconvenient, it's likely abandoned.
Convenience takes precedence over what's environmentally friendly.
Nowhere is this craving for convenience more evident than in our dependence on cars. At 16, most teenagers develop an unbreakable bond with the automobile and driving replaces walking as our main form of transportation. When I'm at school, it's a little different. But when I'm home, it's all about getting in my car and going to Burger King. To be honest, I still do the selfish things like drive to the grocery store, which is a five-minute walk.