'Rubbish has no value.' Identify the arguments for and against this view.
Essay Plan.
Process words- Identify the arguments. (outline the arguments)
Content words- Rubbish, Value.

Rubbish is the 'invisible part of consumption' (Brown, 2009, p103). The definition of rubbish via the dictionary is something that is 'worthless, unwanted material that is rejected or thrown out;' (Dictionary.com, July 2012). It is something that no one wants and 'ought to be out of the way and out of sight.' (Brown, 2009, p103). This is a normative view of rubbish, determining 'right principles for action and guiding people’s decisions on what they ought to do' (Brown, 2009, p105). From this definition, we could describe rubbish as something that has …show more content…

This explains the relationship between supply and demand and the effects of the value of items through market price. If something is in heavy demand and low supply, then the price will increase, and 'a fall in market price is the result of a decrease in demand relative to supply' (Brown, 2009, p129). For Thompson, zero-value transition is essential for this transformation, as transient items loose demand they stop supply of the item during the zero-value period. When demand then increases again, and supply is fixed, price then rises, and the item becomes durable. Rubbish has no value economically because no one wants it (demand is low) even though it is in plentiful supply, meaning the market price is low and therefore of little value. Revaluation of rubbish in an economic sense is possible through the process of recycling and refinement of rubbish for raw materials in the 'rubbish business' (Brown, 2009, p118). Rubbish can be valued by others, such as old cars and appliances being reused for scrap metal. In this sense rubbish is revalued by others as demand for certain rubbish increases relative to supply. Through passing on rubbish to others it gains value, 'Donations to charity shops, passing on to old friends and family members, car boots sales, internet auction sites such as ebay, and local second hand shops' (Brown, 2009, p120) allows unwanted goods to be channelled to where they can