Summary

The "Landfill Generation" refers to individuals who were aged 5 to 21 in the 1990s, a period characterized by mass production of disposable goods, including cars with shorter lifespans and less valuable collectibles, contributing to a throwaway culture that has filled landfills and made it harder to find durable products.

Abstract

The article discusses the "Landfill Generation," a term coined to describe those born between the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, who grew up during the 1990s when mass production led to the creation of cheap, disposable items. This era saw a significant shift in consumer goods, with automobiles transitioning from steel-bodied, long-lasting vehicles to ones made with plastic or fiberglass, which were less safe and had shorter lifespans. The 90s also overproduced collectibles, diminishing their value over time. The author laments the loss of durable goods, the rise of a disposable society, and the challenges of reversing these trends. The article suggests that the mindset of easily replacing rather than repairing items has become ingrained, leading to environmental issues as landfills expand. The author calls for a change in consumer behavior, advocating for fixing and reusing items to mitigate the impact on the environment.

Opinions

The author believes that the term "Landfill Generation" accurately reflects the impact of 90s consumer culture on the environment.
There is a critical view of the automobile industry's cost-cutting measures in the 90s, which sacrificed vehicle longevity and safety.
The overproduction of collectibles in the 90s is seen as a factor that significantly devalued these items.
The shift towards disposable goods is considered a detriment to the quality and durability of consumer products.
The author expresses frustration with the trend of replacing rather than repairing items, which is seen as both economically and environmentally unsustainable.
The article suggests that individuals must take responsibility for their consumption habits to address the issue of overflowing landfills.
There is skepticism about the possibility of reversing the damage done by the disposable culture, but the author advocates for starting with small-scale changes in personal behavior.

The Landfill Generation -Who Were They?

Where are they now?

Somewhere in between Gen X and Millenials; are a group that I lovingly refer to as the landfill generation. No. It is not a flattering term, but unfortunately, it is true. The people between the ages of 5 through 21 in the 90s became the landfill generation.

Don’t feel bad. I fall into this category myself!

Why?

The 90s were a time when things became mass-produced across the board. Automobiles, furniture, collectibles, and more are made as cheap and fast as possible. Things are made to be thrown away, not be fixed.

Cars

Cars are probably the most obvious sign of this that is obvious to see, are vehicles from before the 90s. Steel bodies encompassed well-oiled machines. Yes, some cars have their downfall, but they were being made to last.

In the 90s, cars became much more accessible, and automobile manufacturers cut costs to ensure there was a reasonably priced car for everyone. Unfortunately, these costs also sacrificed the life and safety of the vehicle. Creating the body out of plastic or fiberglass made the possibility that a fender bender would total or injure the vehicle beyond repair.

If you doubt my logic on this, look on the roads today. How many cars from the 1990s do you see? Even as a now-classic car, there are also not many cars from this time period in car shows. Volkswagon has always been a manufacturer flaunted for their great designs and durable cars, yet there aren’t many Volkswagon made in the 90s on the road today.

I blame the 90s for being the reason that many cars end up in junkyards. Perhaps the large book that came with your vehicle back then would still be around now and more people would either be fixing their vehicles. If the owner’s manual is any indication, it is completely the owner’s fault.

How exactly we went from books that explained and diagramed even the most difficult task like timing chains, to a small pamphlet that explains how to change a tire and includes a warning to not ingest the battery fluid is beyond my realm of thinking… so I digress.

Things From The 90s Are Less Valuable

Even collector’s items like; baseball cards, Hotwheels, beanie babies, and more, were so overproduced that it made it decrease in value much faster. Furniture, vehicles, and larger items were the same way. You could buy a dresser for much cheaper. BUT it was made of plywood. So the dressers made of real wood that would last forever were set aside for cheaper dressers that you would have to replace every few years… BOOM landfill generation.

Why Fix It?

Leaving us with cheaper items and the difficulty of trying to fix said items much more difficult than going out and buying another cheap, but new one. To this day we still have this problem. Even technology has become disposable. Not only if it breaks, but also because it becomes outdated so quickly.

Most of the time, it is cheaper to buy a new phone than get a broken one fixed; this goes for many different areas in our consumer market. Don’t lie, if you have a home office, as I do, it is tempting to just buy a new printer rather than dole out all the money for new ink (sometimes cheaper too). That is precisely the problem.

The Outcome

The circle of consumerism fills the landfills even faster now. It is actually harder to find, and more expensive to find things that will last because of an overflowing market of competitors pushing a cheaper product.

It also leaves the landfills so full they expand and encroach on the small areas of nature we still have.

How Do We Fix It?

Unfortunately, I believe the damage can not be reversed. Too many people throw away things without thinking or they think buying new is one of the only options. We treat the landfills as an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ issue.

One of the easiest ways to fix it is to correct the behavior in your home. Decrease the amount of trash. Fix things instead of just throwing them away. Hand them down or donate them to someone that needs them.

Even if we just started on a very small scale, it is better than continuing to do nothing.