Value of Rubbish Dd101

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Rubbish is an inevitable consequence of a consumer society, although it can be argued that not all rubbish is deemed worthless. This essay examines the argument that rubbish is not worthless. I will examine the factors which affect rubbish and wastefulness and I will show the many ways in which rubbish can be valued in society. This essay is based upon the module materials, although I have also included information from personal discussions for my argument. One of the factors, which resulted in the increase of rubbish, was rising affluence. With rising earnings, people's time and labour became more valuable, affecting their choice between labour-intensive and labour-saving activities. This is also links with the factor of changing gender roles, as women had less to do due to the household appliances which were labour-saving. Eventually these appliances would need to be disposed of. The shift in mass consumption was also a major factor in the increase in rubbish, as well as wastefulness. (Reference to chapter 2, making social lives). Supermarkets are stocking a greater range of products. Due to the increased value in people's time and labour, it can be argued that people find it easier to purchase more than is required than it is to make a second journey to the shop to buy more. This is resulting in an increase in wastefulness as some of the food which is purchased is thrown out, as it was never really needed. "People in the UK have more clothes and shoes than ever before, eat a wider range of food than even before, and increasingly their homes are fitted with appliances and facilities that would have been undreamed of or classed in the luxury bracket in the past". (Page 108 ,asking social lives) With the increase in purchases on clothed and shoes, there is also an increase in the rubbish produced. What happens when the clothes no longer

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