Every year, about a dozen of the literally thousands of people I speak to show signs of a condition that I call “recycling rage”. These people find the prospect of sorting their waste so maddening that no amount of reasoning will convince them that recycling is the right thing to do.

The primary symptom of recycling rage is the inability to accept reason. Statistics, research and professional experience are no match for unfounded beliefs.  For example, these folks are under the misguided impression that illegal dumping will occur anytime a change is a made. When the electronics recycling program started, I heard several sufferers proclaim that our ditches would be overflowing with illegally dumped waste. It did not happen. Ditches are not filled with old TVs. Instead, more than 3000 metric tonnes of electronic were recycled in 2009.   

These kinds of facts are no match for recycling rage.  A business owner I spoke to in an area that is moving to clear bags for garbage was so upset that they threatened to dump their waste in the ocean or on the steps of city hall. How can a plastic bag elicit such strong emotions?

Another symptom of recycling rage is that the rage is not targeted.  The sufferer is mad at everything about our system, but nothing in particular. There is no way to offer a sense of satisfaction to these sufferers. They often claim that they have no time to sort their waste. The irony is the time they spent raging against the system would be ample to time to recycle right. In some cases, it would also be more than enough time to set up a backyard composter.

It is important to remember that our solid waste system is really a wonder. You produce waste, you separate your waste, and you put it to the curb for disposal. For a few minutes of your time, you are helping the environment and generating economic activity. Here’s hoping that recycling rage will go the way of burning garbage.