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Originally Posted by Makarov
I agree with you (but reach the opposite conclusion). Waste, like pollution, is certainly not diluted by number of people. Indeed, waste, like pollution, is created and caused by people. And people benefit from the activities which create and cause waste (and pollution). This is precisely why per capita is the most reasonable way to discuss these issues.
For example, if Alberta separated from the rest of Canada, in purely raw numbers, people living in Alberta would suddenly produce much, much less waste (roughly 90% less than when they were people living in Canada). However, this is meaningless when discussing a global issue of too much waste. Albertans (in this scenario) did not become any more efficient and (all other things remaining equal) would continue to produce the same amount of per capita waste (and continue to contribute to the problem in the same way as before). Albertans would also continue to enjoy all of the benefits of their waste-producing activities.
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You're actually arguing my point for me. If Alberta separated from Canada, Albertans would not be producing more or less waste at all. The only thing that changes is the artificial line that determines who gets to look worse. At the same time, you are simultaneously arguing - correctly - that Alberta would not become more efficient despite having a lower population than Canada as a whole while giving China credit - incorrectly - for having a very large population.
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Are we really going to tell poor people in India that you shouldn't produce any more waste (and shouldn't engage in all of the beneficial waste-producing activities like industry, consumer consumption, etc) because India produces large raw amounts of waste but the residents of Monaco may continue buying super-yachts and drinking bottled water because Monaco produces tiny raw amounts of waste? Does that strike anyone as fair or just?
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On the one hand, you are attempting to manufacture a straw man as nobody has made that argument.
On the other, you nearly touched the truth of the issue. If the amount of waste humanity creates is a problem, then the amount of waste humanity creates needs to be reduced. Everywhere. The moment you start making excuses based on the size of a region's economy, you subordinate environmental concerns to monetary ones. So, yes, we should be looking at reducing waste everywhere. Because one less tonne produced in Canada is worth the same as one less tonne produced in India. And China. And Monaco.