Knowing what we know about the chemical combinations that are extraordinarily harmful to our environment and our bodies, the continued use of chlorofluorocarbons, plastics [in unnecessarily profuse quantities] and other non-reusable, non-recyclable materials is self-destructive, and therefore, completely insane.
In Brooklyn, there is an economic niche of humans who collect recyclable goods from other people's trash [those of us too lazy to separate and take it for the return] and make money from the state-sponsored deposits. [You're paying for this on top of the retail cost. You know that, right?]
While I applaud the economically creative and socially responsible ingenuity of these 21st century adapters, I am repulsed by our inability and unwillingness to remove these excess materials from our system of production and manufacturing.
The health, safety and marketing concerns that drive this over-packaging dynamic are sometimes valid, mostly hypochodriacal and oddly mythic in symbol and cultural residue.
The health concerns are sometimes valid - if it was actually the packaging that was preventing the spread of diseases and pests. Recent news proves that the packaging is ultimately irrelevant.
The safety issue is evidence of the increasing infantilization of humans in our culture - THEY will protect you so you don't have to think about it or pay attention to your own choices and actions. [It used to be that you could just dive into the swimming pool. If you judged wrong, you suffered the consequences. Now, diving isn't even an option.]
Marketing = modern myth-making
If I need to say anything else about this, try looking at a package of singly-wrapped prunes...I mean, "dried plums".
If this doesn't convey something to you, put your head back in the sand.
There is a simple and straightforward solution to this problem:
1. Ban the harmful substances,
2. Legislate extremely stringent guidelines for packaging materials and designs,
3. Require reusability or recyclability for all materials used,
4. Set a start date approximately one year hence,
5. Let everyone figure out what they're going to do,
6. Impose MASSIVE fines on those who do not comply - in effect, put them out of business.
What will we do without plastic wrap, straws and twist-ties?
SUFFER!
No! We'll do like we always did before those things were mass produced - make our own, or go without.
Kind of like we'll have to do with water, air and food once the environment has been completely trashed.
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