Public perceptions of conservation and recycling

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Mater. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6515670

Sharpe, L

The concept of conservation and recycling materials from postconsumer waste attracts people interested in environmental and consumer issues and problems of local government. For a time, the general public perceived large-scale recycling as a black box, quick-fix remedy for the severe problems of urban waste disposal. The public is now more perceptive about the institutional difficulties connected with recycling. Citizens active in local government affairs understand that officials have problems in committing scarce funds to long-term, novel, regional ventures; in contracting to deliver fixed amounts of refuse; in negotiating contracts for industries to purchase recyclables from proposed plants. Disillusioned by the slow development of large-scale recycling plants, and discouraged by shakedown problems of plants already built, a segment of the public is turning to emphasis on materials conservation and separation at source. This segment perceives that savings in materials and reduction in bulk of refuse would be maximized if industry would produce longer lasting, more readily repairable, and less material-consuming products, but that some conservation could be achieved by changes in consumer use patterns. Local governments are urged to mandate home and office separation of waste and to establish separate collections. The public is well aware that markets are essential to the success of recycling materials. To enlarge markets for secondary materials, people seek to correct the incentive/disincentive imbalance between the two types of materials. To reduce waste, they think that disposal costs on material users should be assessed in proportion to the generation of wastes.

• Research Organization: League of Women Voters Educational Fund, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 6515670
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Mater. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 1:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320302 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Materials
320900 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Education & Public Relations-- (1980-)
BY-PRODUCTS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FINANCING
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
MANAGEMENT
MARKET
MATERIALS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MUNICIPAL WASTES
PROCESSING
PUBLIC OPINION
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
URBAN AREAS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES