Doing it Right - Which Countries Recycle the Most?
The global waste crisis is spiraling out of control. With nations like China recently having stopped importing waste from other countries, there is a rising need for countries everywhere to find an efficient and environmental-friendly way to manage their waste.
Recycling happens to be one of the best options out there. But have you ever wondered: which countries recycle the most? And who has the most successful recycling program in the world? And the best recycling rates? Well, you are about to find out!
Why recycling is so important
It allows us to reclaim valuable resources from waste while simultaneously helping prevent landfills and protecting wildlife. While it can be a tricky process to master, the last few decades have seen many countries implement spectacular recycling methods. Here are a few, whose citizens and governments have worked together to tackle the waste crisis through recycling programs and initiatives.
Germany
Germany first introduced its recycling system in 1991 with its Green Dot system. It was the first duel recycling framework in the world for gathering waste from households and organizations. A key feature of the initiative is that citizens themselves are tasked with the duty of sorting the waste and to prevent the potential rise of landfills, companies are held accountable for the packaging they use. The more the packaging, the higher the fee they have to pay.
This joint effort has prompted the recycling rate in Germany to leap from 3% in 1991 to 66% in 2017 and has also resulted in a decrease in the production of virgin plastic, paper and metal - thereby creating less trash to be recycled in the first place.
South Korea
South Korea boasts of a capable waste recycling system with citizens separating waste before throwing it out. Moreover, Seoul inhabitants have also been legally required to discard food waste in biodegradable bags – which they are charged a little fee for. The fee for the bags is intended to discourage food waste and the charges collected are used to pay for the management and handling of the city's waste.
The recycling rate of plastic waste in South Korea was around 44.8 percent in 2018, and this has remained between 40% and 50% over the past decade – which is quite impressive!
Sweden
Sweden started its famous bottle recycling system in 1984. It enables Swedes to drop off their empty glass or plastic bottles and cans at ‘reverse vending machines’ - which give out vouchers in return. The nation has even prohibited the sale of any bottles or cans that are not a part of the scheme.
Returpack - the organization that is in charge of the system - processed an impressive 2.05 billion bottles and cans last year. However, while Sweden’s recycling rate for bottles and cans is high at 84.8%, its overall recycling rate can still improve considerably - with much of its waste being incinerated.
Norway
Way ahead of the pack when it comes to recycling, Norway has one of the best schemes for recycling plastic bottles - which was developed by an organization called Infinitum. The scheme instituted an extra fee every time a consumer bought a plastic bottle, which could then be redeemed if the bottle is later recycled - thereby incentivizing the process and giving recycling a value. The results have been so incredible that multiple nations are in talks to start similar initiatives!
The scheme has enabled Norway to recycle an incredible 97 percent of all its plastic bottles, with less than one percent winding up in the environment!
Reverse Vending Machines in Sweden (Image: Daily Record)
As countries try to find new ways to limit waste through recycling, at Plastics For Change we’re doing our part. We enable companies and organizations to source high-quality recycled plastic through responsible and ethical supply chains – thereby helping build a circular economy for plastic.
While it may not possible to recycle all the waste that is being generated globally, the process is one of the best ways to manage this crisis effectively. There is a clear need for more nations to adopt sustainable practices but this responsibility extends beyond just governments – a common factor in the examples above is that the public bought into the need and was involved in upholding and developing a recycling culture.
If we all work together, we have a real shot at curbing this waste crisis efficiently and effectively!