If containers became of greater concern to consumers, existing and potential technology undoubtedly would be employed in this way. One of the important changes that might be expected to occur if private enterprise took over responsibility for disposal from government is that positive incentives would be substituted for force and penalties in trash collection. It might still be appropriate for governments, in the interest of health and safety and for the protection of property, to make rules regarding the burning or disposal of trash, and to enforce these with penalties. But private enterprise would try to attract its customers to dispose of their waste in helpful ways. One of the possibilities is that stores might become collection centers for many items that otherwise become debris, especially if the stores and customers could see a way to profit in the process.
Stores are patrons of manufacturers.
Manufacturers might be expected to give attention to making their packages reclaimable. It is this function that has been neglected because of the present arrangements. Delivery trucks, which otherwise return empty from their rounds, could be used to return the containers to collection points for reprocessing plants. A Specialized Service What is being discussed is, in the broadest terms, the restoration of specialization to disposal of leftovers. If restrictions on the use of labor and other resources were removed, a great deal of specialization might be expected to develop in the collection of what is now refuse.