from the first post: 'I ask again, why is the onus for recycling put on the hapless consumer?'
History is repeating itself. When the environmental movement first took off in the 1970's, big business etc managed to defuse it by pointing the finger at individuals. In effect saying, 'Why are you complaining about our effluent when you yourself throw away the tabs off of soda pop cans?' Amazingly, it worked.
People fret about bags. Meanwhile, how much is wasted by:
a movie which cost millions to make and which bombed?
the entire NASCAR industry?
professional sports?
over air conditioning? At my husband's company, most of the women wear sweaters because the building's so cold even though it's 95 out.
corporate and professional cultures which require suits and ties in the office, which then require lots of a/c to make the summer bearable.