GA Proposal: Promotion Of Recycling

[Lenlyvit]

Promotion Of Recycling

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.

Category: Environmental

Industry Affected: All Businesses - Mild

Proposed by: Greifenburg

The World Assembly,

Recognizing that improved manufacturing processes often lead to an increased waste production due to cheaper products indirectly promoting a use and throwaway culture;

Understanding that technological limitations and economical concerns can lead to reservations regarding waste reduction programs;

Troubled, however, that many waste products contain materials that require significant amounts of time to decompose or are of toxic nature;

Concerned that unregulated accumulation of refuse inevitably leads to negative environmental effects due to contamination of water, air and soil and thus poses a danger for sapient species, animals and ecosystems;

Further concerned that uncontrolled increases of waste squanders valuable, rare and energy-intensive resources;

Thus believing that a reduction of waste would benefit all nations and their inhabitants;

Hereby,

1. Defines for the purpose of this resolution:
a) "Recyclable waste material" as a waste material, item or object that can be reprocessed into materials fit for manufacturing;
b) "Recycling" as a process in which a recyclable waste material is converted into a state that is reusable for production;

c) "Salvageable object" as a complex waste product that can, due to disassembly, yield recyclable materials;

d) "Salvaging" as a process in which a salvageable object is disassambled into recyclable waste materials;

2. Mandates:

a) the introduction of recycling and salvaging as a means of waste reduction in all member nations in accordance to their technological and economical capabilities, unless such is already introduced and active;
b) the implementation of an easily accessible system for the collection of recyclable materials and salvageable objects in said nations, unless such is already in place;

3. Requires its member nations to encourage participation in recycling and salvaging, and the usage of through recycling recovered materials with the means of legislation, incentives or penalization;

4. Clarifies that this resolution does neither prevent nor discrourage the implementation of other waste reduction methods before or after recycling takes place.

5. Encourages its member nations to support the research of new recycling and waste reduction techniques to further reduce waste production.

This is the discussion thread. To cast your vote, go HERE

[Haivon]

For. I think this is a great idea and actually helps a lot if you start thinking. Also it is well written in my view.

[Warris]

For.

It's well worded and incites action, but on top of that it presents a real problem with a solid solution and a noble goal, even if it isn't a full solution for waste management.

[Deleted]

Seems to me there was something similar last year, but it didn't pass. Recycling isn't as beneficial as most think, and something like 85% of that which is recycled ends up in landfills anyhow, so it's really inefficient and the cost doesn't really justify the limited results. If it is to pass (which it likely will, because turtles) this proposal could have benefited from having some WA funds to help poorer nations get a program up and running. I'm also a firm believer that the greatest onus for waste reduction should be on manufacturers and packagers, and legislation mandating biodegradable packaging would achieve a lot more.

That all said, THX through its WA proxy, will vote For this resolution (but just barely).

[Jabberwocky]

If 85% of recycling ends up in a landfill, the program is not comprehensive enough. I will agree with @thx1138 that the real responsibility lies with the manufacturers to use biodegradable materials.

[Deleted]

Jabberwocky,a lot of this came to light last year. It's particularly bad in North America...

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/21/us-plastic-recycling-landfills

[Jabberwocky]

Feb 24, 2020 17:21:13 GMT -5 @thx1138 said:

Jabberwocky ,a lot of this came to light last year. It's particularly bad in North America...

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/21/us-plastic-recycling-landfills

That's both illuminating and infuriating. I'm big on recycling, and it angers me that my efforts are for naught.

[Anisopterra]

I agree fully with THX in that the responsibility for packaging-based pollution falls on the producing company. However, this resolution is well-written (in my opinion) and represents an excellent step forward.

Anisopterra will vote in favor of this proposal

[Lenlyvit]

Would it be possible to write such a proposal to go along with this one, or would that kind of fall into the Committee only rule?

[terinn]

This is an amazing idea! Recycling is a very important part in protecting our planet. Though not the only part, it is very important.