I can't speak for everyone, but I bet a lot of the "deniers" would agree with me when I say that we don't pour our oil into the storm sewer, we don't throw old batteries in the campfire, etc.

There is nothing wrong, as you say, with recycling or reduction of comsumption. There is also nothing that necessarily connects either of these things with helping future generations. If recycling some item is economically or energy inefficient it is wasteful. That would tend, on a large scale, to impoverish future generations.

Environmentalists have a tendancy not to want to debate things like this--thay want me to be satisfied with "all recycling is good", and when I am not, they have a statist urge to pass laws to force me to comply.

Recycling should be taken, case by case, on the product's own merits. Some recycling is efficient and productive, some recycling is inefficient and wasteful.

There is nothing worse for the environment than large groups of people whose basic economic needs are not being met.

WW