I live in Germany now and I think the whole grun punkt and trash separtating system is a good concept. Granted it is more work and I don't know if it is significanlty better for the enviornment. But doesn't it make sense to fix a problem before it gets too big?
2007-09-27 10:07:14 · 8 answers · asked by Elizabeth M 1 in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
The USA has a vast recycling system. Most places you have only to set your recyclables at the curb for pick-up.
Wide use would be of tremendous bebefit to our environment and would generate dollar savings as well.
We are mostly too lazy to take advantage of our recyclables.
2007-09-27 10:24:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Several reasons. The US has more landfill space, per capita, than Germany, so the cost-benefit analysis of recycling is less favorable in the US. Also, US citizens are generally not as disciplined as Germans are, and would be less likely to comply with a German-style mandatory recycling program. Furthermore, with more available land and natural resources, people in the US aren't as conscious of the natural limits on our ability to consume as Germans would be.
In the abstract, it usually makes sense to fix a problem before it gets too big. However, in the US -- in contrast to European countries which tend towards command-style systems -- whether fixing a given problem makes sense depends almost entirely on economics, and often short-term economics at that. When the average person in the US receives a direct economic benefit from recycling, or avoids a direct economic penalty, they will recycle.
2007-09-27 12:19:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am not aware of the details of this system, but here in the US we certainly have recycling programs in our major cities. I put out a recycling bin once a week with items separated (ie plastics, paper, metal, ect.) Regular trash gets picked up on a separate day. Virtually all inner city residents participate in this trash collection system....... even though there is no fine for not participating, which there shouldn't be.
2007-09-27 10:17:06 · answer #3 · answered by PD 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Europe is much smaller and people are much more concerned about the environment ,because we have far less .
It is also more densely populated so trash becomes a problem very quickly .its rather necessity and love for the little Nature there is ,that compels people to behave more responsible about their Environment.
In the USA vast amounts of humanity don`t give a hoot about Nature .
Just look here in Environment ,in Answers,the people that care are ridiculed even suspended
.
The people who are negative are the leading Answerers now,and a category that is supposed to represent the Environment ,now represents the justification to destroy it.
So don`t look in America for green OR economic behavior towards Natural resources
2007-09-27 10:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Many communities do. Its a local decision made by each community. Garbage handling is not high priority on the federel level.
2007-10-01 08:50:42 · answer #5 · answered by chitownlifer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is what collection fees are for. The trash company does this. Why would anyone have to do this themselves?
2007-09-27 10:39:18 · answer #6 · answered by Dr Jello 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sure do you have an address we can sent it to in Germany
2007-09-27 10:15:30 · answer #7 · answered by vladoviking 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Idk we all should though... start composting as a nation!
2007-09-27 16:26:12 · answer #8 · answered by Avaria 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋