In recent news, a shocking revelation has come to light regarding the popular trading card game Magic: The Gathering. It has been reported that Hasbro, the parent company of Wizards of the Coast, the creator of Magic: The Gathering, has been dumping excess and unsold product directly into landfills. This news has naturally sparked outrage among the gaming community and environmental activists alike. The disposal of playable and sought-after cards, which could otherwise be distributed to players or donated to charities, not only represents a tremendous waste but also goes against the principles of sustainability and responsible environmental practices. The magnitude of this issue is further highlighted when considering the enormous global popularity of Magic: The Gathering. Since its launch in 1993, the game has amassed a vast player base, with thousands of tournaments and events taking place worldwide.
As someone who used to live near a landfill, no, there's no chance you can go get these cards still. The landfill people will yell at you. You will probably get run over by a bulldozer. Even the better-preserved buried specimens are like as not thoroughly soaked with hot garbage juice. Especially in Texas, where it will already be reaching a balmy 80F/27C on the daily.
Naturally people flipped out to a truly unreasonable degree, demanding more pictures, an explanation, and that the person they had never met return and grab all the cards they could. Regardless of the reasons for the disheartening end for such valuable pieces of cardboard, this is a fate no MTG player or collector would ever wish on even their worst enemies.
Since its launch in 1993, the game has amassed a vast player base, with thousands of tournaments and events taking place worldwide. Magic cards are not merely pieces of cardboard but valuable assets that hold significant sentimental and monetary value for many players. The decision to dispose of this merchandise goes against the basic principles of business ethics.
Somebody tossed at least $100K of Magic: The Gathering cards in a landfill
"For dust you are, and to dust you shall return."—Emrakul or somebody.
(Image credit: LATIN0 via Reddit)This past weekend a Reddit user going by LATIN0 posted an image of what they estimated to be six pallets of Magic: The Gathering cards that had been dumped at their local landfill. What would be a treasure trove to a dedicated player was taken as a curiosity by LATIN0, who only knew the game existed from a decade of Reddit use. So they snapped a picture, dumped their trash, and moved on with their life. Later, they posted the quirky picture to Reddit alongside a few more pictures of opened sealed packs.
All without knowing that the retail value of those pallets and boxes was, at a conservative bent, something to the order of $100,000. Depending on contents, however, that could easily have been more than $250,000 worth of MTG cards, containing as it did a mix of Secret Lair, Modern Horizons 2, and Unfinity cards spanning 2019 through the end of 2022. That higher figure is if more of the valuable cards like Modern Horizons, which retail for near twice the price of a regular MTG pack, or the nicer Secret Lair cards were present. Either way, it doesn't matter now—you can't take stuff from a landfill, so almost all of the cards got left there by LATIN0 and their coworkers.
Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: LATIN0 via Reddit) (Image credit: LATIN0 via Reddit) (Image credit: LATIN0 via Reddit) (Image credit: LATIN0 via Reddit)Naturally people flipped out to a truly unreasonable degree, demanding more pictures, an explanation, and that the person they had never met return and grab all the cards they could. By LATIN0's return the next day, spurred on by internet strangers' estimations of the vast fortune at hand, the cards had been through what happens to everything at a landfill within 24 or so hours: Run over by a bunch of bulldozers, then buried in more trash, then run over a few more times for good measure. The results were absolute carnage. (NSFW for Magic: The Gathering players.) LATIN0 later updated their story with answers to the common questions people were asking.
There was of course rampant speculation about where, or why, this small fortune in retail product had been trashed. The most likely answer is that it was a product a shipping company held because they were unpaid that was eventually disposed of—which happens all the time. That or a warehouse product that had been rejected by a large buyer like Target after someone had an accident with a forklift and/or a raccoon broke into a warehouse and peed on it or what have you. Also happens all the time, with workers utterly unaware of whatever it is they're throwing away.
For others this was a sign that the rampant rumors around Magic: The Gathering in the past year or so have been true, and that Wizards of the Coast truly is overprinting cards to boost profits. That came to a head late last year among controversy over the $1,000, 60-card Anniversary Set and a major bank devaluing Hasbro stock while assessing that it was "killing its golden goose" with how Magic was being treated.
Anyway, no, this probably isn't a sign that retailers don't see the value in carrying an overstock of MTG cards and would rather just write them off and toss them in a dumpster. Our society is just monumentally wasteful in this exact way.
(Image credit: LATIN0 via Reddit)As someone who used to live near a landfill, no, there's no chance you can go get these cards still. The landfill people will yell at you. You will probably get run over by a bulldozer. Even the better-preserved buried specimens are like as not thoroughly soaked with hot garbage juice. Especially in Texas, where it will already be reaching a balmy 80F/27C on the daily.
Given the relaxed nature of LATIN0's attitude about this disaster, Redditors in the replies called for many unreasonable things, to which stolid LATIN0 responded: "Please don't threaten me, this is Texas." A sentence which makes me proud to be a fellow Southerner.
For their part, LATIN0 displayed superb wabi-sabi about the whole thing. "I'm not mad I didn't take any boxes but I wish I knew what they were worth when I took a photo and seeing them on the ground. I only know of MTG because of Reddit posts I've seen over the years," they said. What's the next step, then? LATIN0 says "I'm going back to work like everyone else."
Anyway, just a great reminder that none of the things we care about on this earth are eternal and we will all one day return to the constituent atoms of which we were made.
For ease of linking, here is the original Reddit post and the update, with a first and second gallery of images.
It raises questions regarding the shortcomings of Hasbro's inventory management practices and their disregard for the game and its dedicated fan base. Such actions undermine the trust and loyalty that the gaming community has placed in the company. Furthermore, the environmental implications of this wasteful practice cannot be ignored. The production of Magic cards involves various resources, including paper, ink, and energy. Dumping these materials into landfills not only contributes to environmental pollution but also perpetuates a culture of disposable consumerism. Given the sheer scale of this issue, it is crucial for Hasbro to address the concerns raised by the community. Accountability is essential, and the company should publicly apologize for their actions and implement more sustainable and responsible practices for handling excess inventory. The situation calls for greater transparency from Hasbro, as players and fans deserve to know how such a wasteful practice was ever allowed to occur. By providing a clear plan for the future, Hasbro has the opportunity to rectify their mistake and rebuild trust with their devoted consumers. In conclusion, the startling news of Hasbro dumping Magic: The Gathering cards in landfills has sparked outrage and dismay among players and environmentalists. This wasteful practice not only undermines the principles of sustainability and responsible environmental practices but also raises questions about Hasbro's inventory management and their commitment to their fan base. It is essential for the company to take responsibility, apologize, and implement more sustainable practices to rectify this situation..
Reviews for "Environmental Activists Protest Hasbro's Magic Dumping"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars
I was extremely disappointed by Hasbro's decision to dump excess Magic cards in a landfill. Not only is this a wasteful and environmentally harmful practice, but it also shows a lack of respect for the loyal customers who have supported and invested in the game. Instead of trashing perfectly playable cards, Hasbro should have considered alternative solutions such as donating them to charities, organizing community events, or recycling the materials. This irresponsible behavior has definitely made me question my future purchases from Hasbro.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars
I can understand Hasbro's need to manage excess inventory, but dumping Magic cards in a landfill is simply unacceptable. As a long-time player and collector, I feel betrayed by this decision. Hasbro should have explored better options like selling these excess cards at a reduced price or redistributing them to local game stores. Not only does this waste valuable resources, but it also undermines the game's community and the efforts of collectors. This incident has certainly left a sour taste in my mouth, and I hope Hasbro reconsiders their approach in the future.
3. Robert - 1 out of 5 stars
I cannot fathom why Hasbro thought it was okay to discard thousands of Magic cards in a landfill. This action not only harms the environment but also disregards the hard work and creativity that goes into designing and printing these cards. Hasbro should have considered more responsible options, such as offering them at a reduced price or even hosting giveaways. It's a shame to see a company with such a large following and influence take such a careless approach. I am extremely disappointed in their decision and will be hesitant to support them in the future.
4. Lisa - 2 out of 5 stars
Hasbro's decision to dump Magic cards in a landfill is a slap in the face to the game's community and collectors. Not only does it come across as wasteful, but it also devalues the cards for those who have invested time and money into collecting them. Hasbro should have sought more thoughtful alternatives, such as hosting events to distribute the excess cards or partnering with local game stores to find a solution. This decision has definitely made me question their commitment to sustainability and the long-term viability of the game.