I prefer using things until they're completely dead to recycling because recycling is pretty carbon intensive too. But yes, I take your points - our systems are flawed and some of the biggest advocates for green living don't really do it themselves. None the less, I'll do my best because it's important, and the solutions we have are better than nothing, so we just have to do the best we can. If more people would act and stop funding manufacturing in China, that would help. If UK government made it illegal to send manufacturing to China, it would stop us passing the buck on our emissions, but I don't know. People want stuff. It's a problem. I wrote a piece about it here that vents some frustration about passing the blame and lack of action by everyone. https://medium.com/illumination/tired-of-being-lectured-to-by-kids-and-millionaires-3d0300a8b7ed