Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Does recycling work?
Position‹2 of 2: No, recycling isn’t as effective as it seems
Argument1 of 3›: People don’t take recycling seriously

Let’s be honest, people are lazy. Recycling is so easy to do, but people don’t recycle like they should.

The argument

Although recycling is a good idea, people won’t follow the idea to a “T”. People are lazy and hope that others in society will carry out world changing positive actions, without themselves having to. Even if people will bother to sort their trash at all, they won’t do it properly. In Minnesota, 15% of the material recycled actually can’t be recycled at all and is labeled waste. Functionally, people will just throw anything into the recycling bin to “better” the environment.

Premises

[P1]People are lazy about recycling, hoping others will act while they do not follow through properly. [P2] Even when they sort their trash, they do it carelessly — in Minnesota 15% of recycled material cannot actually be recycled. [C] Therefore, because people don't take recycling seriously, recycling isn't as effective as it seems.

Counter-arguments

With enough teaching, people will realize what can and can’t be recycled. The problem now is how many people recycle. Only 34% of people in America recycle, and in Italy 36%. Progress is increasing but slowly. So, before regulations can be enforced, the numbers need to increase.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] People do faithfully recycle, and it does prove to be effective.