The only thinking on the subject that I thought would get anywhere was unfortunately going in a dangerous direction. The writer proposed that a company be responsible for the entire product--including the wrapping--from the moment of manufacture until the eventual destruction of every part of the product. That would make McDonald's responsible for the wrapper of the Big Mac as well as the sandwich. Sounds good in theory, but in practice the problem is that we as consumers would own nothing. If the company is responsible for the packaging, even after we've bought it, then the corporation could dictate everything we do with that product. I know I don't want 3M in my house telling me what I can do with my duct tape, or Charmin telling me I can't use their cardboard toilet rolls to start seedlings in the spring (which works great, incidentally).
There are certainly problems with our packaging (which is most of the trash we collect), but I haven't ever heard a good solution for it. Theoretically, I suppose a municipality could impose a fee on companies that sell products in the city, a disposal/waste fee, but in practical terms that is never going to work. We're just going to have to find creative ways to dispose of our waste, ways that are much more efficient than the recycling programs we have now. There's been some progress there, fortunately.
Good post.
Great comment thanks for your points!