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From a very young age we’re taught about the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Even then, I felt that we focused more on recycling than the other R’s. I remember being taught to examine my bottles and containers for the little numbers that told me if I could recycle them or not. Growing up, I always felt that recycling was super complicated to the point where I just thought it was too challenging to be an everyday part of my lifestyle. But when I went to Germany when I was 16, I was shocked at how easy it was to recycle there; everything felt so streamlined and normalized.
Sign These Petitions To Tell Coca Cola You Don’t Want Their Plastic
It turns that some countries have cracked the code with recycling. Germany, South Korea, and Wales are among the best of the best. They each recycle more than 50% of their plastic waste each year. When we compare that to the 35% of plastic waste we recycle in the United States, it seems that we have a lot to learn from these countries about how to recycle easier and better.
More Problems: Recycling In The United States
One reason why recycling in the United States feels complicated and difficult is that it isn’t centralized. In the U.S we actually have a combination of private and government collection services with each operating differently.
So what do we do? Regardless of where you want to recycle in the United States, it’s good to keep a couple things in mind. Not all recyclables are created equally; glass is typically much easier to recycle than plastic. The bottle where you get your drink in just might make a difference if recycled properly. But, if could become landfill waste if it isn’t. And whatever type of recyclable food or drink container it is, you should always wash it out so that it can still be recycled.
Here are a few more tips from 3 of the world’s top recyclers to help you learn how to recycle better.
Less Plastic: What Do The Best Recyclers Do?
Germany: Get Organized
Recycling one ton of office paper can save the energy equivalent of consuming 322 gallons of gasoline.
Environmental Protection Agency
The best recycling programs are well-organized and consistent. In Germany, this means providing a rainbow of different colored recycling bins where you can deposit your recyclables. Every color corresponds to a different type of item so you don’t have to question whether or not something can be recycled in a particular bin. I know that I would be much more confident recycling my plastics with a system like this. So, here are a few tips you can adopt at home to make recycling easier.
- Invest in a few colorful bins to keep at your home to make it easier to see which type of material would go where.
- Separate your paper, plastic, metal and glass items by placing them in these separate bins.
- Check with your community recycling resources to see if your area does accept separated recycling materials.
- If they don’t accept a particular plastic, you can use the Closest Recycling Center Near Me locator tool.
South Korea: Get The Government Involved
As of 2018, South Korea had a 53.7% recycling rate. Their government has been able to achieve these statistics in part with incentives that link recycling with money. In South Korea, waste is weighed and residents are charged for disposal depending on the weight. On the other hand, recyclables are all free. This encourages people to recycle more and waste less. The Ministry of Environment estimates that through their regulations they’ll be able to raise the recycling rate to 70% by 2030.
A few states like California, Delaware and New York have imposed bans on items like single-use-plastic bags and a small charge for consumers who use them. So, it will pay off in the long-run to adopt the habit of saving your coins for a rainy day instead of single-use plastic. If you’re state is one that hasn’t put restrictions on plastic waste, you can take a few initiatives yourself to pressure them into taking stronger actions against consumers.
- Write your Congress member asking them to join the Congressional Recycling Caucus.
- Sign a petition asking big corporations like Amazon to offer plastic-free options and sustainable packaging at checkout.
- Write your favorite brand asking them to minimize their packaging and your waste.
Wales: Ditch Single-Use Products
In the U.S an estimated 1,500 plastic bottles end up as waste in landfills or the ocean every second. ~ The World Counts
Since 2000, Wales has been able to increase the recycling rate of the average household from 5% to 65%. The government is also pushing for there to be no new waste added to landfills by 2050. Part of these goals are being met by promoting items that can be reused instead of single-use items like plastic water bottles. If you’re looking to learn how to recycle better to be closer to a zero waste lifestyle too, here are a few tips you can take today.
- Invest in reusable items like a water bottle and refill on the go instead of buying plastic water bottles.
- Shop with reusable produce bags and a shopping tote when you’re grocery shopping.
- When ordering take out, say ‘no’ to the plastic utensils and napkins wrapped in plastic. If you’re eating on the go, travel with your own reusable kit.
While these countries are among the best recyclers, they’re by no means perfect. Their systems focus heavily on reducing what goes to landfills, but they don’t focus enough on what happens to the small percentage of waste that actually does go there. In Germany, plastic waste still gets exported to other countries without truly being recycled and some of it sticks around in landfills for a long time. Even the best of the best can do more to reduce waste and learn how to recycle in more innovative ways.