7 ms·

I think it should serve as a wake up call for the rest of the world. Sweden has had incredible success with recycling in recent years, most notably touting the

by rmshea 8y ago

I think it should serve as a wake up call for the rest of the world. Sweden has had incredible success with recycling in recent years, most notably touting the fact that they import other countries' trash to use in their recycling plants [1]. How can we recreate Sweden’s model in the US and have our own solution to the trash problem instead of giving it to China? [1] https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sweden-s-recycling-is-so-revolutionary-the-country-has-run-out-of-rubbish-a7462976.html https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sweden-s-recycling... EDIT: Fixed wording and added source. Sweden is buying other countries' trash, not selling theirs.

LargeWu 8y ago
I thought Sweden was burning it for energy, not recycling it.
reaperducer 8y ago
touting the fact that other countries in fact buy their trash. How can we recreate Sweden’s model Isn't this exactly the problem? Sweden isn't taking care of its own trash, but instead selling it to China, just like the US and many other countries?
- sciyoshi 8y ago
  I think GP meant to say that Sweden is buying other countries' trash: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sweden-s-recycling-is-so-revolutionary-the-country-has-run-out-of-rubbish-a7462976.html https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sweden-s-recycling...
  - rmshea 8y ago
    Yes, thank you for the source. I've fixed my wording in the original post.
ars 8y ago
> Sweden has had incredible success with recycling in recent years That line is more false than true. For the most part they are not recycling their trash, they are incinerating it. Additionally Sweden is tiny. Trash there is brought to local recycling centers with 6 to 8 or more different bins, and people are expected to sort their trash. How would you do that in the US? Trucks with 8 compartments? Where would you even keep that many different trash cans? The US is very large, you can't expect people to transport their recycling.
- qqg3 8y ago
  Am in the US, transport my recycling right now as there is no pickup in my county.
  - ars 8y ago
    How far are you traveling? It's very very very unlikely that what you are doing is actually good for the environment, unless you are making a trash run only every few months.
- jacobr 8y ago
  > Additionally Sweden is tiny. Trash there is brought to local recycling centers with 6 to 8 or more different bins Actually a lot of homes now have these bins: http://blogg.tyrens.se/avfallsblogg/files/2017/10/Fyrfackskarl.jpg http://blogg.tyrens.se/avfallsblogg/files/2017/10/Fyrfackska... Recycling is simply made very convienient. I never transport my trash more than 5 meters. There's even a box for light bulbs and batteries.
  - ars 8y ago
    > have these bins Those bins looks pretty nice, although the balance between the comportments seems odd. (The paper compartment (2 of them?) is too large, as is the white one the right - is that for "other"?) Not sure I'd be able to get that down my stairs though. > I never transport my trash more than 5 meters. How is it picked up? Curbside? Curious what kind of truck they use. Also, do you keep that in your house? Do you go outside in the winter for each item? Or do you stage the trash in the house, and sort it later?

by rmshea 8y ago

LargeWu 8y ago

I thought Sweden was burning it for energy, not recycling it.

reaperducer 8y ago

touting the fact that other countries in fact buy their trash. How can we recreate Sweden’s model Isn't this exactly the problem? Sweden isn't taking care of its own trash, but instead selling it to China, just like the US and many other countries?

sciyoshi 8y ago
I think GP meant to say that Sweden is buying other countries' trash: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sweden-s-recycling-is-so-revolutionary-the-country-has-run-out-of-rubbish-a7462976.html https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sweden-s-recycling...
- rmshea 8y ago
  Yes, thank you for the source. I've fixed my wording in the original post.

ars 8y ago

> Sweden has had incredible success with recycling in recent years That line is more false than true. For the most part they are not recycling their trash, they are incinerating it. Additionally Sweden is tiny. Trash there is brought to local recycling centers with 6 to 8 or more different bins, and people are expected to sort their trash. How would you do that in the US? Trucks with 8 compartments? Where would you even keep that many different trash cans? The US is very large, you can't expect people to transport their recycling.

qqg3 8y ago
Am in the US, transport my recycling right now as there is no pickup in my county.
- ars 8y ago
  How far are you traveling? It's very very very unlikely that what you are doing is actually good for the environment, unless you are making a trash run only every few months.
jacobr 8y ago
> Additionally Sweden is tiny. Trash there is brought to local recycling centers with 6 to 8 or more different bins Actually a lot of homes now have these bins: http://blogg.tyrens.se/avfallsblogg/files/2017/10/Fyrfackskarl.jpg http://blogg.tyrens.se/avfallsblogg/files/2017/10/Fyrfackska... Recycling is simply made very convienient. I never transport my trash more than 5 meters. There's even a box for light bulbs and batteries.
- ars 8y ago
  > have these bins Those bins looks pretty nice, although the balance between the comportments seems odd. (The paper compartment (2 of them?) is too large, as is the white one the right - is that for "other"?) Not sure I'd be able to get that down my stairs though. > I never transport my trash more than 5 meters. How is it picked up? Curbside? Curious what kind of truck they use. Also, do you keep that in your house? Do you go outside in the winter for each item? Or do you stage the trash in the house, and sort it later?