Disposable World

We live in an increasingly disposable world. More and more products are made for single use then disposal or are created based on planned obsolescence. The former is supposedly for convenience and the latter is billed as providing more affordable (cheaper) products, which it does, but it also guarantees repeat purchases in a relatively predictable timeframe. Does that last bit really provide more affordable products in the long run?

      Our household has been through 3 name-brand flat screen televisions in 5 years and all 3 were in their 4th year of use when they died. When replacing one of them I told the salesperson that the TV we were replacing was only 4 years old and she replied that was normal now. So much for quality. Ironically, the small cheap no-name TV in our kitchen is still going after almost 10 years. I hope I didn’t jinx it by typing this!

       My trip to the store to replace the most recent casualty yielded a similar interaction. When I picked up the box containing the new TV, I commented that it was lighter than the dead one even though it was a bit larger. The salesperson commented that TVs are made flimsier each year. Again, so much for quality. Even worse than the declining quality is that salespeople openly talk about it, taking it for granted as just part of life. At least this time, the salesperson mentioned an $89 5-year warranty that will replace the TV with the same – or equivalent model if it is no longer made (which it surely won’t be after this model year). I don’t normally purchase warranties, but I took that one as it’s a bargain based on the lifespans of our last 3 big-name sets!

       The planned obsolescence of consumer products is inconvenient and annoying, but it is the ever-increasing roster of single-use and other disposable products that is truly alarming. From disposable cloths for mopping/cleaning, to millions of plastic water bottles, to the myriad convenience products we use and toss every day, our landfills are overflowing with “convenience”.

       Then there is the environmental cost of the throw-away electronic devices that more often than not evade recycling and end up in landfills. Many of those electronic components leach chemicals into the ground that can find their way into our aquifers. And built-in shortened lifespans mean more metals and minerals need to be mined to provide replacement products. That of course leads to pollution at the source, impacting people that may not even have access to most of the products those raw materials will be going into.

       Yes, electronics and many convenience products are less expensive now than years ago as technology has progressed, but quality is worse and worse as companies sacrifice quality for profit and tout the low cost to the consumer. What about the total cost to our planet? Something to think about next time you are making a purchasing decision balancing convenience and sustainability.

I’m taking off the next 2 weeks for the Labor Day holiday and travel to the All 50 States Club inaugural convention. Next post will be week of 9/16/2024 and I’m sure the convention will provide material for future posts, so stay tuned.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com  08-26-2024