Throw-away consumerism on large scales started with the GI's returning from World War 2. I can't blame the public for following what they've been taught by parental example for generations since 1946.
The much sanctified Henry Ford gave office boy candidates a screening test by making them open a package for him. The fellow who cut the string off and threw it away was hired. The usual practice was to untie the string and save it. You have to weigh the value in each. For Henry it was cheaper to buy new string than the labor cost of the office boy to save it, store it, and reuse it.
There is something to be said in favor of the $5000 car that is replaced by a new one every year as opposed to a $30,000 car that can be traded for another after 6 years. But I wouldn't expect everyone to appreciate that sort of value.
I also remember going in to a Caddy dealer when I was in my
20's and asking how much it would cost me for a bottom end brand new Caddy. Salesman said $5500. (I bought a new Ford for about half that price.) I told him that at that rate I'd never own one. Nor have I.See "axiology".
I guess I *was* talking about throw-away......