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The Recycling Chain, are we conditioned to recycle?

Submitted: 25/06/2013 21:05:00

How often in this modern age have we been encouraged, indeed conditioned to recycle? Everyone over the last few years keep mentioning this recycling carry on. This "new" concept has been thrown at us over the last decade or so. Recycle this, recycle that, a coloured bin for one thing and a different colour bin for another.

Wait a minute! Hasn't it always been the case that any time we buy secondhand or find a new use for a discarded object we have been recycling? Of course. The antique fraternity have been at this recycling caper long before "recycle", "reuse" or "repurpose" ever became an 'in' word or catchphrase to use.

Some of this recycling today is associated with rubbish. With what we discard from our kitchens, empty soup or bean cans, empty cereal boxes, empty plastic bottles etc, etc. All to be processed and used again. To some, furniture, jewellery and some other items have been handed down over the generations within families or close friends. Such items have increased in value, some considerable other not so.

It would appear that to some antiques have fallen out of favour with modern day design driven, transient personalities. How can we begin to share ideas with possible new young collectors? Can the antique industry be saved before it's too late?

What we call real antiques, (items over one hundred years old) are, it could be said, not in fashion. Experience tells me people seem to prefer either buying cheap furniture they can throw out some day without giving it a second thought, or, buy expensive or trendy furniture the same as or similar to that of their neighbours, which will never increase in value.

By following brand names and mass market designers where will this leave the future of the "green recycling" of our antique furniture? There are parents who have wonderful expensive antiques, some of which are beautiful, quality pieces, however the auction houses are full of these such items as the adult young off springs just do not want them. These items are just not appreciated by today's young offspring. There is no value of history or heritage. We hear parents saying that they are down sizing. They are discarding display cabinets, ornaments and all sorts of expensive items that were handed down to them through the generations. When asked if they have children the usual retort is 'Oh yes but they don't want it' . So, off it goes to auction.

It appears that the modern people of our generation seem to be hoping only to reap the reward of their inheritance in monetary terms as opposed to that which can continue the recycling chain of years past.

Michael Davies