RE: [GreenYes] Producer Responsibility & Consumer Costs

["Chris Cloutier" <chris@e4partners.com>]

If you choose not to pay taxes, you go to jail, loss your house or otherwise
are punished.

If you choose not to buy a product, you don't and aren't.

That is the difference as I see it.

Chris Cloutier
e4 partners, inc.
2801 21st Ave S
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407
612.278.7140
612.278.7141 (f)
www.e4partners.com

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-greenyes@grrn.org [mailto:owner-greenyes@grrn.org]On Behalf Of
RJayW2@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 4:39 PM
To: Greenyes@grrn.org
Subject: [GreenYes] Producer Responsibility & Consumer Costs

"H" made some excellent points and some not so excellent points regarding
Producer Responsibility & Consumer Costs.  "H" states:  "Joun is
demonstrating a habit of thought that proves the degree to which we have
become a 'consumer society'.  John, the taxpayer is footing the bill ...not
the consumer."  John's habit of thought is called current reality.  We are a
consumer society.  "H" is a consumer.  We all are.  And let's be clear.  The
only consumers who are not taxpayers in the U.S. are small infants.

That said, "H" is correct in stating that currently, the cost of
disposal/recycling/reuse is not reflected in the price of many (99.9%) of
consumer goods we purchase.  (Remember now, consumers are taxpayers.
Taxpayers as a group are not living in mud huts on the edge of town.)
Consumer/taxpayers are currently paying the cost of
disposal/recycling/reuse--through our garbage bills and through the taxes we
pay that go to local government to fund local waste infrastructures.

It's a given that consumer/taxpayers (remember one in the same) are
subsidizing producers of the products we buy.  What John (that's me) wishes
to know once again is:  What is the difference between subsizing
disposal/recycling/reuse through our tax dollars OR paying for
disposal/recycling/reuse up front when we purchase the product?  Will it
cost
us less to pay for these services at point of purchase?

I'd be really cool to think that producers are not going to pass on the cost
of assuming the costs of the disposal/recycling/reuse of their products on
to
the consumer.  This won't be the case.  "H" is correct in wanting the
producer to assume these costs like a warranty and the producer will if made
to legislatively.  However, there's no denying that the cost be passed on to
you, me, and all the other taxpayer/consumers in the U.S.

I am not attacking or demeaning Producer Responsibility.  We simply need to
realize that the consumer will be paying the costs of
disposal/recycling/reuse one way or another.  I'd like to know which way is
best and which way is cheapest.

John Waddell
KJWB Publications Inc.
Refuse News
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