The Swedes are Running Out of Rubbish to Recycle

This is a bit mind-boggling. The people of Sweden have become such ardent recyclers that less than one per cent of their trash winds up in the landfill. They're so good at it that Sweden imports rubbish just so it can keep its recycling plants running. From The Independent:


While Europe is aiming for a 65 per cent recycling target by 2030, the UK may be about to fall even further behind its green neighbours.

Why are we sending waste to Sweden? Their system is so far ahead because of a culture of looking after the environment. Sweden was one of the first countries to implement a heavy tax on fossil fuels in 1991 and now sources almost half its electricity from renewables.

“Swedish people are quite keen on being out in nature and they are aware of what we need do on nature and environmental issues. We worked on communications for a long time to make people aware not to throw things outdoors so that we can recycle and reuse,” says Anna-Carin Gripwall, director of communications for Avfall Sverige, the Swedish Waste Management’s recycling association.

Over time, Sweden has implemented a cohesive national recycling policy so that even though private companies undertake most of the business of importing and burning waste, the energy goes into a national heating network to heat homes through the freezing Swedish winter. “That’s a key reason that we have this district network, so we can make use of the heating from the waste plants. In the southern part of Europe they don’t make use of the heating from the waste, it just goes out the chimney. Here we use it as a substitute for fossil fuel,” Ms Gripwell says.

Taking Out the Trash, Bringing Home the Bacon

Mexico City has introduced a novel approach to dealing with its trash problem - food for trash.   Under the plan, Mexicans can take standard recyclables to a recycling centre where they're exchanged for "green points" that are redeemable for locally grown produce including fruits, vegetables, even flowers.  So far, no bacon - sorry.

And a h/t to Dan Moutal for pointing out that Mexico has done what the US and Canada can't - it has passed a powerful climate change law that mandates substantial reductions in carbon emissions and the introduction of large-scale renewable energy.   Working from 2000 levels the law calls for 30% emissions reductions by 2020 and 50% by 2050.

The bill made it through Mexico's lower house by a 128 to 10 vote and received unanimous approval in the Senate.