If we're doing all this recyling to save the planet, what are the rest of the world doing about it. ?

Question

China and America for example. In the Uk we all have our different coloured little boxes and skips for this and that. But what difference will it make if the rest of the world are made to follow suit?

Answer 1

The Americans still let their kids go to school in cars, and want to 'buy' their contribution from third world countries. The Kyoto agreement went right over their head.
The Chinese are building factories at an unbelievable pace - mostly coal-fired.
So, the short answer is that while you are recycling the smallest piece of paper, America, India, and China just plough on and make a farce of it all.

Answer 2

We recycle because the goverment ie us will get fined if levels are not met by certain times.

The difference is what Europe is about, The european government sees itself as an example to the world, and it is only having one that proves that environmental initiatives can be viable in a capitalist economy.

Within the next few years the global pressure will force countries such as the USA and China to sign up to a Kyoto type of resolution.

Answer 3

I've read some of these answers and as an American I want to let you know that I am personally doing my level best to promote recycling. In Pennsylvania you can be fined for not separating your trash. But I also learned very young that my nation was far behind. We had a guest from Sweden in our home back in 1968 and he was mortified to see that we threw all our trash away in the same bin. That was my first exposure to recycling. I am now a high school teacher and the importance of recycling and conservation is my top priority. Recycling alone won't do it, but it is a part of the solution. Don't be discouraged! Everybody do their part and we will get through this!

Answer 4

In Japan, we have over 600 categories of recycling. We don't have "trash", but many containers for plastic, paper, metal, etc. Then people futher sort this into different bins.

China buys recycled material from Europe and United States. They use this material to make toys and paper packaging to be sold back to the West. So in sheer tonnage, China is the biggest recycler, but very little of its own waste.

The United States has recycling also, but not as detailed as Japan. Many places have paper, aluminum, glass, and different types of plastic (easiest is #1 PETE and #2 HDPE). Grocery stores have places where you can bring used plastic bags to be recycled. Other types of plastics # 3 through #6 can also be recycled but you need to bring to a recycling center.

Answer 5

We recycle in America too. I live in New York and it is illegal to not recycle here. The building owners can be fined for not recycling. The UK is not the only environmentally conscious place in the world.

Answer 6

In answer to your question...........Nothing. The non thinking public are being led by the nose, and being told they are going to save the planet, It is UTTER nonsense. You tell me, how, is saving a bit of can here, a bit of cardboard there, going to stop, 10 (TEN) volcanoes which are active at this time, from spewing thousands of tons of noxious substances into the athmosphere. Come on wake up. All this, is about being taxed more, we are being slapped on the wrist because we are adding to global warming. Have you noticed, it seems that it is only the UK that is doing all this adding. Bah Humbug.

Answer 7

Nothing much and here in the UK we are still pretty backwards when it comes to recycling and thinking green compared to other countries.
Recycling is not the answer, we should stop consuming so much, and reuse more!

Answer 8

The rest of the world is buying the stuff we're recycling, because we can't process it competitively enough. A lot of our recycled stuff ends up overseas, papers, rags, plastics, even steel.

Answer 9

as usual no one else will bother and we will be paying thru the roof for some sort of tax on green issues