The natural incentives should be enough of a reason to help recycle and save energy. By being wasteful and harmful to the environment we basically are ruining it for future generations and ourselves. However, as I found in my last post, most people don't see the effects in their daily lives, so therefore they don't see it as a big problem in their lives. The incentives that are in place set by the government and recycling companies do not seem to be working. Incentives at all levels from government to individual small recycling plants are available to everyone.
Source: http://www.greenerpackage.com
There are a variety of incentives for preserving the environment that people can take advantage of from large government programs to small recycling companies. In a USA Today article from 2010 called "Getting paid to save energy, recycle? Incentives expand," author Wendy Koch writes," A growing number of private and public programs are offering cash, gift cards and other rewards such as cupcakes and massages for eco-friendly behavior." The article goes on to list some possible incentives that are available. CVS for example gives customers $1 to use in the store when they skip using a plastic bag four times. The Company Earth Aid has registered people in all fifty states who have the ability to earn points that can be used in certain stores when these people save on their utility bills. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has a list of Energy incentive programs both public and private in every state. In Illinois, one possible incentive for businesses and companies is the New Construction program, which gives grants to buildings that go beyond code requirements in energy efficiency. People need to understand the possible consequences of not helping to preserve the environment. Although many people may not be directly affected by immediate consequences like pollution, they still should understand what could happen to the next generation. There are so many incentives to preserve the environment both substantial and non-substantial, but somehow most people just do not seem to care.
UP NEXT: What new incentives could or should be implemented in the U.S.? Can the United States use incentives that other countries around the world have put into place?
