Is recycling the solution?
After the UNEP Resource Panel session I got the chance to ask Mr. Bringezu (Director of the Research Group on Material Flows and Resource Management at the Wuppertal Institute) about the role of recycling within the sustainability debate.
Have a look at the two following videos:
Why is full recycling currently not possible?
Why is full recycling not feasible in the long run?
Mr. Bringezu points out that full recycling is not possible right now and from a technological perspective even difficult to achieve in the long run. From my point of view it is crucial to realize the fact that even if we manage to transform our linear economic processes to fully closed circular systems there would still be one major problem if material throughput-growth continues:
The recycling approach neglects the scale-problem. Even if we drive cars that don't produce CO2, use renewable resource and alternative energy sources in a sustainable manner a growing economic system uses up more and more space. Ecosystem heavily depends on land that is not utilized by human activities. It follows that recycling is definitely necessary but it cannot be the final answer for the issue of unlimited growth.
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social aspect
when talking about recycling, one should also take into consideration cultural differences. I remember that that point was mentioned in one of the panels. I recall a project in Egypt, where they tried to implement recycling containers. The reaction of the population was destruction. In that country there are simply too many people making a living from recycling! We cannot always force people into thinking and following in the "western way".
Glocality
I totally agree. We need to listen to locals who know their own realities best. Glocal thinking & acting!!