--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Recycling is a good thing to do. It makes…" description: "\"Recycling is a good thing to do. It makes people feel good to do it. The thing I want to emphasize is the vast difference between recycling for the pur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barry-commoner-9980_differences_recycling-is-a-good-thing-to-do-it-makes_989692.png" --- # Recycling is a good thing to do. It makes people feel good… ![“Recycling is a good thing to do. It makes people feel good to do it. The thing I want to emphasize is the vast difference between recycling for the purpose of feeling good and recycling for the purpose of solving the trash problem.” quote by Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barry-commoner-9980_differences_recycling-is-a-good-thing-to-do-it-makes_989692.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barry-commoner-9980_differences_recycling-is-a-good-thing-to-do-it-makes_989692.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/barry-commoner-9980_differences_recycling-is-a-good-thing-to-do-it-makes_989692.png) > “Recycling is a good thing to do. It makes people feel good to do it. The thing I want to emphasize is the vast difference between recycling for the purpose of feeling good and recycling for the purpose of solving the trash problem.” [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recycling can be motivated by personal satisfaction or by solving waste issues; the latter is the more impactful goal. **In simple terms:** Recycling helps either self‑esteem or waste problems. Key Takeaway Prioritize solving waste over feeling good. Themes environment waste management motivation Mood reflective determined Type activist educational When to use this quote - community programs - policy design - personal habits - corporate responsibility Key Concepts sustainability behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - How can we shift focus from personal reward to collective impact? - What policies encourage solution‑oriented recycling? A Different Perspective Personal gratification may not lead to systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Recycling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recycling/) [Things to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-to-do/) ## Related quotes > [To achieve true sustainability, we must reduce our "garbage index" - that which we permanently throw away into the environment that will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-korten/to-achieve-true-sustainability-we-must-reduce-our-garbage-index-that/) [David Korten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-korten/) > [We are not to throw away those things which can benefit our neighbor. Goods are called good because they can be used for good:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/we-are-not-to-throw-away-those-things-which-can-benefit-our-neighbor/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [Recycling is more expensive for communities than it needs to be, partly because traditional recycling tries to force materials into more lifetimes than they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/recycling-is-more-expensive-for-communities-than-it-needs-to-be/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [Recycling is what we do when we're out of options to avoid, repair, or reuse the product first. Firstly: Reduce. Don't buy what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leonard/recycling-is-what-we-do-when-we-re-out-of-options-to-avoid-repair-or/) [Annie Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leonard/) > [We need to send hundreds of millions of dollars down to our public high schools, vocational colleges, and community colleges to begin training people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/we-need-to-send-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-down-to-our-public/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [The purpose - where I start - is the idea of use. It is not recycling, it's reuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issey-miyake/the-purpose-where-i-start-is-the-idea-of-use-it-is-not-recycling-it-s/) [Issey Miyake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issey-miyake/) > [In nature, no organic substance is synthesized unless there is provision for its degradation; recycling is enforced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/in-nature-no-organic-substance-is-synthesized-unless-there-is/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Support renewable energy. Recycle. Reuse. Restore. Replenish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/support-renewable-energy-recycle-reuse-restore-replenish/) [Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/) > [“I’ll eventually replace my charity clothes with things I’ll buy for myself, but not until I’ve worn them through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-cody/i-ll-eventually-replace-my-charity-clothes-with-things-i-ll-buy-for/) Jennifer Cody > [That's something I've always been down with: creative commons and people being able to license their music and allow other people to reuse it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/that-s-something-i-ve-always-been-down-with-creative-commons-and/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've never been able to reuse characters, I've often wanted to. I've never been able to get people to cooperate. I can't get anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/i-ve-never-been-able-to-reuse-characters-i-ve-often-wanted-to-i-ve/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [“A maid’s yard, house, wardrobe, fridge, etc. sometimes also serve as her master’s dustbin or dumpsite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-maid-s-yard-house-wardrobe-fridge-etc-sometimes-also-serve-as-her/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I guess this is how love is when it comes undone. No matter how tight you knit the stitches, a sharp tug on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayari-jones/i-guess-this-is-how-love-is-when-it-comes-undone-no-matter-how-tight/) [Tayari Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayari-jones/) > [Hunts Point Revival's reuse of the existing structure as part of the new development was conceptually bold and challenging. Overall, the project contained a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mazria/hunts-point-revival-s-reuse-of-the-existing-structure-as-part-of-the/) Edward Mazria > [The debut show, “Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary,” is supposed to be about how artists reuse humble or unusual materials. There’s good work here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/the-debut-show-second-lives-remixing-the-ordinary-is-supposed-to-be/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) ## More by Barry Commoner > [The gap between brute power and human need continues to grow, as the power fattens on the same faulty technology that intensifies the need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-gap-between-brute-power-and-human-need-continues-to-grow-as-the/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The methods that EPA introduced after 1970 to reduce air-pollutant emissions worked for a while, but over time have become progressively less effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-methods-that-epa-introduced-after-1970-to-reduce-air-pollutant/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Sooner or later, wittingly or unwittingly, we must pay for every intrusion on the natural environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/sooner-or-later-wittingly-or-unwittingly-we-must-pay-for-every/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Environmental concern is now firmly embedded in public life: in education, medicine and law; in journalism, literature and art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/environmental-concern-is-now-firmly-embedded-in-public-life-in/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Environmental pollution is an incurable disease. It can only be prevented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/environmental-pollution-is-an-incurable-disease-it-can-only-be/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [In nature, no organic substance is synthesized unless there is provision for its degradation; recycling is enforced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/in-nature-no-organic-substance-is-synthesized-unless-there-is/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [We are in an environmental crisis which threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/we-are-in-an-environmental-crisis-which-threatens-the-survival-of/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [I don't believe in environmentalism as the solution to anything. What I believe is that environmentalism illuminates the things that need to be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/i-don-t-believe-in-environmentalism-as-the-solution-to-anything-what/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The environmental crisis is somber evidence of an insidious fraud hidden in the vaunted productivity and wealth of modern, technology-based society. This wealth has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-environmental-crisis-is-somber-evidence-of-an-insidious-fraud/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The most meaningful engine of change, powerful enough to confront corporate power, may be not so much environmental quality, as the economic development and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-most-meaningful-engine-of-change-powerful-enough-to-confront/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [The environmental crisis is a sign that the ecosphere is now so heavily strained that its continued stability is threatened. It is a warning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/the-environmental-crisis-is-a-sign-that-the-ecosphere-is-now-so/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [It reflects a prevailing myth that production technology is no more amenable to human judgment or social interests than the laws of thermodynamics, atomic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/it-reflects-a-prevailing-myth-that-production-technology-is-no-more/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Seen that way, the wholesale transformation of production technologies that is mandated by pollution prevention creates a new surge of economic development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/seen-that-way-the-wholesale-transformation-of-production-technologies/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Finally, since human beings are uniquely capable of producing materials not found in nature, environmental degradation may be due to the resultant intrusion into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/finally-since-human-beings-are-uniquely-capable-of-producing/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) > [Because the global ecosystem is a connected whole, in which nothing can be gained or lost and which is not subject to over-all improvement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/because-the-global-ecosystem-is-a-connected-whole-in-which-nothing/) [Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) [Explore all 69 Barry Commoner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/) ## More Differences quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. 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To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Shortly after I turned 50, both Ted Turner and the AARP came into my life. The only difference? With AARP, there were benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/shortly-after-i-turned-50-both-ted-turner-and-the-aarp-came-into-my/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. 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B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) [Browse all 8,110 Differences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Recycling is a good thing to do. It makes people feel good to do it. 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