Changing this structure, takes building a new structure.
You cannot change a part of it, as the structure is self maintaining.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance shows this well.
As Buckminster said, we need to build a parallel new structure that replaces the old structure. We cannot change it from within.
We have more pollution, waste and toxins in our environment
This is not really true. We are actually far better, per capita, then we were 100 years ago. Even more than 200 years ago. Burning wood for heat in a fire place is much more polluting than an oil fired boiler. Comparing cars to horses is interesting. Horses are far worse for pollution, and stinkiness than cars per mile traversed.
We just have a lot more people and a lot more cars.
However, we also have some corporations that are actually producing toxins to produce toxins. Yes, we have some that are outright evil.
We are better off yes, but there are more toxins than prior to that more dirty phase. You are using a closer relative time period. I was using a longer view relative to industrial revolution that introduced more pollution. We were also less people back then even if there was more wood burning ;) Thing shave gotten much better, we are much better off, but there are still issues ;)