Every continent, country, state, and city is different: From what they sell to what their
beliefs are. One thing that most places around the world have in common is a system of
recycling. Recycling is an important part of life. It saves energy and natural resources, reduces
pollution, and increases the survival of habitats and a number of species.
Australia uses Veolia Environmental Services for recovery and recycling.
Veolia
believes that in order to reduce the impacts of waste and unwanted resources, one must first change the
way we purchase and consume goods. This, in turn, changes the way we perceive the unwanted
resources once their productive life is passed.
Veolia accepts common recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, aluminum, and bottles:
plastic and glass. They also collect various electronic media, tiles, concrete, timber, plasterboard, and
metal. Each Australian household generates about 400 kilograms of waste every year. Around 88% of
that waste is paper and/or cardboard.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.veoliaes.com.au/recycling-services/
Belize recycling is taking off dramatically. One may find a few abandoned vehicles lying
around the countryside and see piles of scrap metal and cardboard left in various places around the
neighborhoods. To the untrained eye these old car parts, scrap metal, and cardboard boxes may look like
garbage, but for the owners of the Belize Recycling Company, it’s cash.
In San Pedro, a town outside Belize City, The Environmental Restoration Project (ERP) team recently
completed the final phase of their project by installing recycling bins throughout the town. These bins
have two compartments: one for organic waste and the other for metals, plastics, glass and paper
Garbage and recyclables can be disposed in 1 of 12 of these recycling bins. The recycling process is very
simple and has many benefits. The number one benefit to recycling is having a cleaner environment.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.koncas.com/recycling-in-belize-taking-off
http://ambergriscaye.com/sanpedrosun/old/01-441.html
Cambodia utilizes an Informal waste collection system, which has many environmental
and economic advantages. This system reduces the need for landfills and saves natural resources, while
providing an important lifeline for some of the world's poorest people.
Informal waste collectors known as "scavengers" recover 9 - 17% of municipal waste, showing an
estimated savings for the municipality of $30,000 to $70,000 USD each day. Informal waste collection
results in a dramatic reduction in life expectancy for the scavengers. Scavengers’ life expectancies
decline due to poor health, poor living conditions, and the lack of protective clothing.
The World Bank states that 35% of Cambodia's population exists on less than $0.50 USD per day. It
is also estimated that about 2% of the population, in third world countries, survives by recovering
materials from waste.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://cambodiaphotographer.photoshelter.com/gallery/G0000a.rKcyg.TLk
Dubai has made some efforts in the last 10 years to deal with the excessive amounts
of waste generated in the city. Recent developments have emphasized the need for waste minimization
and recycling. In 2005, 46 thousand tonnes (3%) of the general waste was collected for recycling from 42
recycling centers around the city, which were set up by Dubai Municipality and a number of private
companies.
The city's rapid growth and urbanization has resulted in a dramatic increase in the amount of waste.
The total waste collected in 2005 was 11.3 million tonnes compared to 6.6 million tonnes collected in
2003. Dubai has many recycling centers but not enough residents take advantage of them, resulting in a
low recycling rate.
(Tonne = a unit of kilograms: 1,000 kilograms = 2,205 Pounds)
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.ameinfo.com/90947.html
Estonia is improving in terms of waste management. Plastic bottles are not recyclable,
though they can be reused. Glass bottles can be recycled by placing them next to a public trash bin.
Paper and cardboard are recycled by being placed into large green containers located at many Statoil
stations.
There has been an increase in the sorted collection of recyclables and a decrease in the amount of
waste delivered to landfills. In 2000, almost all household waste was sent to landfills, whereas now only
two-thirds of household waste is sent to landfills.
All this information and more can found at:
http://www.inyourpocket.com/estonia/country-info/recycling_57712c
http://www.tartutarbija.ee/?q=en/node/34
Finland has one main paper recycling company, which is owned by the paper
manufacturers. About 35% of the recycled paper is used in newsprint production, 41% in board (mainly
for tube cores) and 19% for tissue products.
The paper recycling process is a very serious system. The paper is sorted according to its grade
and moisture content. The paper is collected in multi-compartment containers, organized for newspaper,
magazines, cardboard and mixed packaging, which are situated at shopping centers. In 2000, 560,000
tonnes were recovered. The largest part was newspapers and magazines at 285,700 tonnes, an increase
of 15% from the previous year. Cardboard totaled 93,800 tonnes.
(Tonne = a unit of kilograms: 1,000 kilograms = 2,205 Pounds)
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.letsrecycle.com/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=38&listcatid=221&listitemid=2074
&section=
Germany is a world leader in recycling. Some materials that are accepted for recycling
are paper, glass, metal, empty spray cans, batteries, and more. Germany produces 30 million tonnes of
garbage annually, of which 65% is recycled. The Green Dot system has been one of the most successful
recycling initiatives, which has literally put packaging on a diet. The Green Dot system has led to less
paper, thinner glass and less metal being used, all resulting in a decline of about one million tonnes of
garbage every year. This system mandates that manufacturers and retailers pay for a "Green Dot" on
products; the more packaging there is, the higher the fee. The cash received then goes toward any
recycling projects or equipment that may be needed.
Germany is the only country in Europe that recycles graves. Many Germans have mixed feelings
about this custom. The policy is that “You don’t own your own plot, you rent it.” The rental period is 20
years, after which you can pay for another 20 years. (Rental can cost anywhere from $900 to $5000.) If
you decide not to pay, the headstone is removed and someone else is placed in the grave.
(Tonne = a unit of kilograms: 1,000 kilograms = 2,205 Pounds)
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.theworld.org/2010/08/11/recycling-graves-in-germany/
http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/recycling.html
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,2080108,00.html
Hong Kong’s household separation of waste is just getting started. The special
administrative region of China is also a super-city with a population of 7 million people. In 2008, just over
800 apartment buildings and complexes joined the government's voluntary recycling program. The
household recycling rate is about 10 – 14%, which the government hopes to increase to 26% by 2012.
Interspersed throughout the city are a number of collection trucks that form the unofficial
"recycling" network. These privately-owned trucks are there for residents to bring full bags of old
newspapers or a hundred kilos of used computer equipment and trade it in for cash.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/05/real-hong-kong-recycling.php
Iceland uses the company Alcoa for its recycling needs. Alcoa has long held the position
of waste minimization. Iceland is currently undergoing an experiment to eliminate vehicle emissions. At a
cost of seven million Euros ($8.7 million), three state-of-the-art buses are operating on some of
Reykjavik’s busiest routes. The buses use a stacked fuel cell arrangement to propel silent running electric
motors with a total power output of 250 kilowatts. Hydrogen consultant, Jón Björn Skúlason of Icelandic
New Energy (INE), describes the advantage of testing in Iceland. “In the whole energy chain of Iceland
there are absolutely no emissions of greenhouse gases because all of our electricity production is
renewable.”
Carbon Recycling International (CRI) was founded in 2006 as a joint Icelandic-American enterprise,
supported by academic institutions and energy companies. CRI makes clean fuel out of pollution. The
company captures carbon from industrial emissions and converts it to synthetic methanol, petroleum and
diesel. The conversion process has traditionally been prohibitively expensive and polluting, but using
Iceland’s endless supply of cheap, renewable energy has proven a successful formula.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.alcoa.com/iceland/en/info_page/recycling.asp
http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2008/04/29/iceland-offers-international-carbon-recycling/
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3519
Jordan only has two recycling companies and neither of them recycles glass or plastic
locally, though these materials are still collected elsewhere. Entity Green Training (EGT), a pioneering
Jordanian company, is working to improve and increase employment opportunities for the country’s poor
and refugee rural communities. Most of these communities make their humble living scavenging through
the trash for materials that can be resold.
EGT is training 70 men. Many of these men have already been engaged in what they refer to as
informal waste management or “scavenging”. The country's King Hussein Foundation has offered to give
EGT some property near the Dead Sea, where the company can establish a center for training.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/boosting-recycling-scavenger-incomes-jordan.php
Kazakhstan contains one of the largest manufacturers of paper, packaging products,
and corrugated board in Central Asia. In 2006, Kagazy Recycling LLP collected more than 38,000 tonnes
of waste paper, which is the equivalent of approximately 150,000 cubic meters of wood, (based on fiber
content.) The paper is then sent to a collection center located in all major cities in Kazakhstan.
The company Kazakhstan Rubber Recycling has organized a process for taking worn out
transport tires and then processing them into rubber crumbs of various fractions. This project will allow
considerable improvement in the ecological situation in Kazakhstan, such as a cleaner and healthier
environment.
(Tonne = a unit of kilograms: 1,000 kilograms = 2,205 Pounds)
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.kazakhstankagazy.com/en/recycling/
http://www.kazrr.kz/eng/index.html
Luxembourg has clear policies on recycling. Since 1998, companies have set up a
procedure for collecting or contributing to a registered organization for waste recycling. Households are
provided, for a refundable fee, with one or more black bins for general waste, blue bins are provided for
paper, and a green bin is provided for garden waste.
The collection, sorting, and disposal of recyclable materials and waste is organized by and sponsored
by the Ministry of the Environment (ME). This system covers all cities in Luxembourg with mobile, houseto-house, and stationary collection. It co-operates with recycling industries, trade, and disposal
companies.
ME has established the first nationwide, environmentally friendly, refrigerator disposal system in
Europe. It has also succeeded in closing the distillation cycle for solvents and has become the first
contact for small and medium-sized businesses in regard to all kinds of environmental problems.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://luxembourg.angloinfo.com/information/73/recycling.asp
http://www.eaue.de/winuwd/43.ht
Maldives is a country made up of 1,200 small islands that are spread across a
thousand kilometers. Only a few decades ago most waste produced on Maldivian islands was
biodegradable. Now foods and other products come in plastic bags, bottles, and tins; all of which are not
biodegradable. In April of 2007, a joint effort between the Australian and Canadian Red Cross Societies
completed a 9.5 million dollar clean-up and sustainable waste management program. An astonishing
35,670 cubic meters of waste was removed from the islands.
Many Maldives communities are quickly embracing the new recycling program. The waste
management center provides a central location for community members to bring and sort their waste into
plastics, metals, and hazardous waste. Over 1,300 people from all 77 communities participated in training
programs, which focus on the key concepts of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reusable cloth bags have
been distributed to encourage the reduction and use of plastic bags.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.redcross.org.au/ourservices_aroundtheworld_emergencyrelief_AsiaQuakeTsu
namis_fieldstory36.htm
Norway’s latest statistics (2005) show that about 24% of plastic packaging, not
including drink bottles, were recycled. Also, 75% of plastic packaging went toward energy recovery, all
resulting in a final diversion rate of 81%. There are no fixed targets for packaging containing hazardous
waste such as oil, chemicals, and paint. Collection of this type is increasing steadily and has been
welcomed by Norwegian enterprises.
The largest center for aluminum recycling in Norway is currently undergoing an environmental
impact assessment to obtain construction and operating permits. The construction is expected to start in
2011. This plant will then recycle close to 300,000 tonnes of contaminated scrap and will aim to
strengthen its position in aluminum recycling and promote the recycling of aluminum as part of its
industrial strategy.
(Tonne = a unit of kilograms: 1,000 kilograms = 2,205 Pounds)
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.recyclingbizz.com/plastic_rubber/LA767128.html
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/aluminium-supplier-tp-build-recycling-plant-2010-09-24
Oman has a strong proponent and supporter for global environmental sustainability and
recycling programs. This supporter is Motorola. Oman and the help from Motorola carriers, customers,
retailers, and recyclers have an operation of take back programs that is in affect across the globe. Any
returned products are sorted and recycled or disposed of in an environmentally responsible way. A few
items that are collected are plastic, glass, and paper.
Oman is using Fujairah facilities, which Omans recycling company. Fujairah facilities have recycle
bins placed in educational institutes. They also have them placed alongside the existing rubbish skips and
within easy reach of every home. Fujairah is also planning to have an extensive education program to
teach people about the dangers of throwing plastic away. They are also teaching the advantages that
come to everybody when plastic and other wastes are recycled for further use.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://responsibility.motorola.com/index.php/environment/products/recycling/htrmp/Oman/
http://fujairahinfocus.blogspot.com/2008/10/oman-leads-uae-in-recycling-by-using.html
Portugal’s government has a progressive and forward thinking policy on environmental
impact. They are pushing forward with many campaigns to ensure the reduction on fossil fuels and an
increase in recycling. Recycling in Portugal is not only popular but is taken to heart. Over the past few
years there has been an increase in the awareness of the importance of recycling. The increase in
awareness is all due to the government’s consistency in advertising and marketing campaigns.
Portugal recycles many materials such as batteries, glass, paper and cardboard, clothes,
furniture and property. 63% of the population actively sorts their rubbish to allow it to be recycled. The
population has managed to increase their recycled waste materials by 22% by June of 2008.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.gekkoportugal.com/recycling-in-portugal.htm
Qatar has recently started a pilot program for recycling. Groups of three bins have
been placed in public areas. One bin is for plastic, one for paper, and the last for aluminum. The amount
of recyclable material that is collected will determine the next steps that need to be taken in order to
create a permanent recycling system.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/05/qatar-vodaphone-recycles/
Romania’s Plastics Recycling Program provides an environmentally sound, marketbased solution to waste management problems, which can be applied throughout Romania and other
parts of the region. This project provides a reliable guide for reducing landfill disposal and for
regenerating secondary plastic resources. This will also lower pollution, costs, and consumption of new
plastics that are associated with this production.
The broader implementation of this program throughout Romania would allow for the recycling of
4,000 tons of plastic material per year and generate economic benefits valued at $3 million over a fiveyear period.
All information and more can be found at:
http://archive.rec.org/ecolinks/bestpractices/PDF/romania_plastic.pdf
South Africa’s recycling for the average suburban household is a bit tedious. The
infrastructure for collecting recyclable material isn’t really in place – yet. Households generally have to
separate their rubbish and take the recyclables to a community drop-off center, where it is then collected
for proper disposal. When it comes to curb-side pickup there is not much offered.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.treevolution.co.za/guide-to-recycling-in-sa/
Turkey’s solid waste recovery and recycling has been a long-standing commercial
activity. Glass and paper recycling have been conducted at industrial scales, since the 1950s. With recent
investments in the recycling industry, almost all types of plastic, glass, paper, and metal materials can be
recycled at various industrial levels in Turkey.
Turkey is one of the biggest scrap steel importers in the world and recycles more than 2 million
tonnes of scrap steel annually. Recycling of nonferrous metals, such as aluminum, copper, lead and
silver, is also widespread and conducted on an industrial scale.
(Tonne = a unit of kilograms: 1,000 kilograms = 2,205 Pounds)
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VFR-490GXTH3&_user=27181&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2003&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort
=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1490338811&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000001858&_version=
1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=27181&md5=34ddfb97a1b3beb0a822ff698a371eeb&searchtype=a
Uganda just launched a new plastic waste project, which is the result of a private-public
partnership between Unilever, Living Earth Uganda, and The German Development Service (DED). This
project’s goal is to improve sanitation services by reducing plastic waste and creating job opportunities for
the urban poor.
3.5 tonnes of plastic waste have been collected in 2010 and delivered to Plastic Recycling
Industries for recycling. A number of collection centers have been set up throughout the Kampala district
and over 1,900 people have participated in workshops. These workshops are designed to raise
awareness about the impacts of waste and the benefits and potential that recycling holds.
(Tonne = a unit of kilograms: 1,000 kilograms = 2,205 Pounds)
All this information and more can be found at;
http://www.livingearth.org.uk/africa_programmes/uganda/uganda_welcome.html
Vietnam has a pretty easy system when it comes to recycling. When someone wants to
get rid of their recyclable materials all they have to do is place them in the street, or rather on the curb, on
a certain day. Then people come around pile to pile and take what they want or need. There are no bags
or bins for recyclables.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://homepage.mac.com/skingsley/blogwavestudio/LH20041221093433/LHA20050607
203057/index.html
Wales is big on recycling. They have a very thought out process for how they deal with
recycling paper and are very straight forward on what can and can’t be collected. The only things
accepted for recycling is paper, cans, plastic, and glass.
The paper process is interesting. The paper is collected from the curbside or from paper
merchants. It is then sorted into different grades (type and quality of the paper). When sorting is finished
all the paper is then shipped to a paper mill to be cleaned (De-inked) and to have the paper strands
refined. After the old paper is sorted and cleaned it is then made into new paper and shipped to where it
is needed.
All this information and more can be found under the various tabs at:
http://www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk/recycle/index.html
There is no place that starts with ‘X’
Yemen is very new to recycling. The main materials that are recycled are plastic,
metals, and paper. The process all starts with collectors. These collectors go around and pick up the
recyclable materials and other wastes from the streets, public areas, and homes.
When all the materials and wastes are collected, they are sold to waste yard owners. The junkyard
owners then sell the recyclable material to larger merchants, who turn and sell them to factories for proper
disposal.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Lack+of+oversight+in+Yemen's+recycling+industry+(Healt
h)-a0191221509
Zimbabwe’s recycling is a big necessity. There are many things that can’t be bought by
the public due to their high prices. Zimbabwe recycles any materials that can be sold. Many random items
are collected and resold to anyone willing to buy it.
Many of these materials and items are bought by people who use them in art work or for repairs
in their home. The money taken or the items traded would also go toward a repair or for the simplest
need…food.
All this information and more can be found at:
http://www.thisisafrica.me/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=302&Itemid=47