[slownews45]

Newpapers / books etc used to get pulped regularly. Seriously - back when your local newsdealer sold papers the way it worked is you'd tear off the front page of paper and pulp the rest. You'd be credited unsold copies based on the torn off front page. This was national - and daily.

Books used to have print runs, after 2 years or even less, anything excess got pulped (millions of items).

If you work in a western grocery store - the expiration date thing used to be ridiculous (perfectly good food in my view going out door). They wouldn't let workers take it home either because of potential conflicts. Inventory management has improved significantly here though I think (still an issue of course).

Amazon charges enough to cover the costs of the returned products. I've even been asked to throw away items myself (I returned something, they credit me the funds and asked I dispose of the item myself).