This assignment will aim to outline the ways in which rubbish can be said to have value in a consumer society. It will attempt to outline all the various ways value is taken in one form or another from refuse which will include; the ecological value by reducing the space taken up in landfill sites, the value of profit in reducing Local Authority Costs by the selling of recyclable rubbish, the value of conserving natural resources when recycling paper, glass, plastic, clothing and IT equipment. The charitable value of providing clothing both in UK and abroad for those in need of help and food to those who might starve without the aid of charity. The value of education both in the UK and abroad in the re-distribution of IT equipment.
Winter, spring, summer and autumn are seasons of the year but for the fashion conscious in a consumer society it is a reason to change our wardrobes, out with the old and in with the new. UK households shed 118,000 tonnes of clothing per year which usually ends up in clothing banks which is either sold in charity shops or sent to third world countries who suffer extreme poverty. The value here is supplying clothing via charitable organisations to those in need whether in the UK or abroad and also the ecological value of landfill space consumed. With regard to clothing which cannot be re-distributed, there is little waste as clothing can go for fibre reclamation and made into new clothes.
Approximately 6.7 million tonnes of food is wasted per year in the UK. The food waste comes from such areas as households, shops, restaurants and factories. In a consumer society some possible reasons for the food wastage is over-buying to ensure we don’t run out, shops over ordering to ensure their shelves are stocked and to provide a good customer service, or where food has been packaged incorrectly. Some shops and factories have teamed up with charities such as Fareshare to be the recipient of these foods. The food which is still in date and edible but for one of several reasons will not be able to be sold