reduce, reuse, delay the inevitable

I'm all about recycling. My father-in-law has been collecting aluminum cans now for years. There is a bin near the fire department where you can donate your used soda cans. The money that is raised goes to the families of burn victims.
Also, I think recycling newspaper or other types of paper is a fabulous idea. I love stationery and when I see that it is made from recycled materials, it gives me that warm, fuzzy, I'm-saving-the-planet feeling.
My kids have brought home crafty little artistic goodies from school which have been made with recycled stuff. But I have to wonder, aren't we delaying the inevitable? I mean, just how long can we hold on to stuff like this?

(picture was borrowed from this website)