It wasn't that long ago when people didn't use as much, throw away as much, waste as much or even need as much...I can remember my own youth, growing up in the 1970's and 1980's, and how the family made things last, had what we needed (not always what we wanted), and worked towards keeping things in working and serviceable order rather than simply throwing it out and getting a new one.
These days, it's the latter, people are quick to discard things and buy new ones and the planet, every human on it, suffers because of the wastage...the plants and animals suffer too, they often bear the brunt of human wastage.
There's a lot to be said for recycling and repurposing of items and if everyone did it a little more maybe we'd not be in so much of a mess environmentally.
How beautiful our world would be…the funny and ironic part is people often see those who practice that otherwise…but just as change starts with us and if we continually practice it..others will also learn and eventually society will be impacted..