We are free to make requests or complaints to the providers of consumer goods. Business, in tum, markets a variety of products to consumerss trying to persuade us to buy. If there is no demand for a product, business will stop providing it. If there is enough demand for change in products or packaging, business will respond. If business and consumers do not voluntarily exercise enough self-discipline to reduce excess solid waste, increased governrnene intervertion will be more likely, with costly regulation imposed to enforce source reduction in design andtor consumption.
Poor societies generate minimal garbage.
Affluent societies generate excessive waste. Individual values will influence what changes people are willing to make to reduce waste. We necd to understand that we are wrestling with conflicting values within ourselves, such as convenience, cost and responsibility. In order to reduce the residential waste going to landfills, we need to use both rational and emotional appeals to ourselves and to others whom we want to encourage to participate. We need to identify our options.