Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Big Brother Enters Recycling Business
RFID technology is going to change your life in the coming years. These devices and their applications are in their infancy, so I'm somewhat surprised at this new and Orwellian approach to encouraging recycling.
Governmental approaches to waste minimization and spurring recycling rates for household wastes through curbside collection, as well as other types of industrial scrap recycling, have always been expensive propositions. Not to mention being a burden to the taxpayer and less efficient than recycling with a monetary incentive or profit motivation.
Perhaps it is no wonder that, as many recycling rates fall, governments institute punitive and fear-inducing techniques to improve compliance with the its social goals, a la the IRS.
This is an area in which you should do some serious self-education. I am of the strong opinion that the potential for abuse of civil rights and privacy concerns warrant careful investigation. This recycling scheme is but the tip of the potential iceberg.
Governmental approaches to waste minimization and spurring recycling rates for household wastes through curbside collection, as well as other types of industrial scrap recycling, have always been expensive propositions. Not to mention being a burden to the taxpayer and less efficient than recycling with a monetary incentive or profit motivation.
Perhaps it is no wonder that, as many recycling rates fall, governments institute punitive and fear-inducing techniques to improve compliance with the its social goals, a la the IRS.
This is an area in which you should do some serious self-education. I am of the strong opinion that the potential for abuse of civil rights and privacy concerns warrant careful investigation. This recycling scheme is but the tip of the potential iceberg.
