h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

An interesting proposition. I would like to know where you get your information from. I would sooner address them than address you because I would probably get further.

I will tell you why you are wrong and use the example of drinks cans to do it. These are made of alluminium. Alluminium comes from bauxite ore. This does not exist in any usable quantities in this country. This means it is mined and processed elsewhere. This has a significant cost in terms of power and environmental damage. It then has to be tranported to the UK. This involves using fuel to power bulk transports, crew wages and the building of more transports. There are admin costs at the production end, export costs and import costs. Once it has arrived in he UK it has to be transported along roads so there are costs associated with that too. This is just a few ideas I can think of, I'm sure there are many more direct and indirect costs as well.

Recycling is general done on a local level. So there are lower costs associated with transporting the materials. You don't end up dumping empty cans in landfill sites, which costs you, if you want your bins taking away. It provides employment in the UK and not in another country so the money you pay in taxes can be spent on something other than unempolyment benefit.

In the wider context, recyling is only part of what should be done. As well as recyling, you should be reusing, repairing and reduce your consumption.

If you want to sit back and do nothing, that is fine by me. I live on top of a very big hill. I wont drown when the ice cap melts. If you wish to continue to live in the wasteful manner you are at present, I suggest you move higher up or put your house on stilts.