Recycling Around the World

Thursday 12 August, 2010 1:02 pm | Food for Thought | Tamara Stone

Recycling differs from country to country…state to state…even city to city…

CHINA

With over 1.3 billion people, China is the most populous country in the world and seems a likely place to find inventive recycling strategies. Although the use of community recycling bins has apparently not caught on, in China, everything is recycled! Suffering from a lack of resources, the Chinese reuse, reduce and, of course, recycle. A New York Times article I found quotes a spokesman for the China National Resources Recycling Association: “Chinese tradition is all about saving and being thrifty…people…would rather have things repaired several times before abandoning them.” (nytimes.com).

China's method of recycling!

PERU

Peruvian photos courtesy of Aleza Remis

In Peru, like China, recycling by sorting reusable objects into bins is not widespread. Instead, some Peruvians make their living by rifling through trash and finding recyclable items, which can be resold. According to a 2009 Times magazine article, the government estimates that Peruvian “recyclers” currently reprocess about 1,800 tons of materials daily. The goal is to up that amount to 5,000 tons by organizing these “recyclers” into associations. These “scavengers” are looked down upon in Peruvian society and giving them government recognition would definitely help the recycling problems in Peru! Perhaps the recycling bins that Aleza Remis saw on her trip to Peru are a tribute to the recycling efforts of the Peruvian government!

SWITZERLAND

In Switzerland, every supermarket has a bottle bank with separate slots for different colors of glass (clear, brown, and green). Towns alternate monthly with separate bins for different types of recyclables. Switzerland has free paper collection once a month AND they collect “green waste” (scraps from the garden) every two weeks. Pretty exemplary! The Swiss have an incentive to recycle so much: The government charges for trash collection so more people choose the recycling route. I think the US would do well following such an amazing recycling campaign…it would create new jobs AND help save the environment!

Each slot is for something: aluminum, PET, glass, batteries and paper, trash, cigarettes butts, even a dispenser of bags to collect dog dropping!

GERMANY

In Germany, like Switzerland, recycling is highly promoted. Differing from the Swiss “one recycling unit, many slots” method, in Germany, recycling items are thrown into reserved bins (usually five to seven lined up, each for a different item). Each bin is color coded, to make the recycling process easier for citizens. According to one survey I saw online, although recycling in Germany is optional, around 90% of civilians voluntarily sort their recyclables! Hats off to you Germany for your incredible recycling efforts…if only the US had such a willing green population!

The multi-bin recycling system of Germany....

Yellow = packaging

Blue= paper and cardboard,

Clear, Brown Green= 3 separate bins depending on the color of the glass

Red = leftover food and plant waste.

Black = for the rest of the trash

USA

I feel it is too difficult to generalize recycling practices in the United States. Some cities sort the trash for their citizens, some charge for disposal, some leave the option to their citizens. However, one commanality most Americans is the recycling bin they use: blue in color and usually with the three arrows in a circle.

Common US recycle bin!

Before I end my post on international recycling habits, check out the graph which illustrates how different countries in the EU manage their waste. Something to think about…