Who are the Anti-Recyclers?
Myth #1: The recycling movement is a product of a false “crisis” in landfill space. Myth #2: Landfills are innocuous. Myth #3: Landfill space is cheap and abundant. Myth #4: Recycling should pay for itself. Myth #5: There are no markets for recycled materials. Myth #6: Recycling doesn’t “save trees”. Myth #7: The environmental harms of manufacturing and using products are incorporated into their prices. Myth #8: Manufacturers are compelled by law to make costly changes in their packaging and products. Myth #9: Recycling is nearing its maximum potential. Myth #10: Recycling is a time-consuming burden on the American public. Conclusion Appendix: Are Disposables Really Better than Reusables? Endnotes ANTI-RECYCLING MYTHS Commentary on “Recycling is Garbage” (John Tierney, New York Times Magazine, June 30, 1996) by The Environmental Defense Fund Richard A. Denison, Ph.D. Senior Scientist 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20006 (202) 387-3500 email richard@edf.org John F. Ruston Econ
