What do you honestly think it will take for Americans to stop being so wasteful?

Additional Details

9 months ago

Um, ItsMe.......I am American, sweetie.

9 months ago

Wow, such ignorance really explains why we aren%26#039;t making progress, doesn%26#039;t it? Sad.

Best Answer

Armageddon. I hate to be so cynical, but I don%26#039;t think anything less will get people%26#039;s attention. Waste and greed have become part and parcel of the American way. I try to do my part, but for everyone like me who reuses and recycles, there%26#039;s someone out there throwing everything in the trash just to spite the %26quot;bleeding heart liberals%26quot;. I wonder if any of those people realize that they%26#039;re also hurting corporations that could cut costs and increase their profits by using more recycled raw materials.

Maybe an incentive program would help. If waste pickup companies charged by the pound for trash pickup but picked up recycling for free, maybe more people would recycle.

Asker's Rating:

Sadly, I agree with you.

Other Answers (15)

• A complete paradigm shift in the way Americans behave. We live in a throw away society. The average American looks for almost instantaneous gratification. Instant burgers, coffee, and relatively cheap fuel. In Europe I have seen better resources to manage the limited resources. We are so large and can avoid the consequences of our actions we don%26#039;t need to think in that scale. But the shift is happening and the world becoming smaller. America will wake up and make the needed changes to be less wasteful and more resourceful.
• When Bono and Geldof Stops World Hunger and focus on the Live Earth
• I think that Americans have this reward-based psychology. If for instance they were rewarded for their efforts they would do it. Think about the average Joe that watches Sunday football, with the mindless consuming families..that%26#039;s who you need to focus on!
• getting a new president
• The world to stop spinning. And, it%26#039;s not just Americans that are wasteful. All around the world people ignore the needs of our planet.
  
  Read further down and take a look at Bohemians response. Excellent thought processing there. As you do, we cook at home making extra for the freezer using tupperware that can be reused. Neither my husband or myself are able to stay home, but we do make every effort to recycle.
  
  
  
  sandy :O)
• I think that to make Americans stop being so wasteful is to charge them for every bag of garbage they put out on the street! And its not only America, It happens all around the world too!
• We are too lazy - never happen.
• Maybe ads. They have convinced many people of things they think they must have. Also, movies with really good non-wasteful role models. That might help people to stop being so wasteful.
• Getting a new president or a miracle.
• Nothing we are spoiled to the max. and we shouldn%26#039;t stop being so wasteful. What would the rest of the world do if we became efficent and didn%26#039;t need them for anything else. Our waste is their gain.
• Maybe something major like the great depression. Then people will have less to waste.