How the World Deals with Its Trash

Trash is trash from the USA to Tokyo but we all are trying unique ways to deal with it day to day. From just dumping it in landfills to high-tech recycling programs to the greenest ways to make trash into energy initiatives. From as simple as daily and weekly dumpster rentals as seen in the United States to very advanced solutions in the Asian countries. Let's take a look at how the world handles their trash.

1. San Francisco, CA

San Francisco has been a leader in waste management for years. They have had and strive to reach a goal of reaching zero waste. They have strict composting laws and a very active recycling program that has managed to divert over 80% of its waste from landfills. One of the ways they reduce trash is that they charge customers for the amount of garbage they just throw away while keeping recycling and composting free. This of course reduces the amount of pure trash that goes into the system and increases the amount of recyclable waste.

2. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo takes waste sorting to an entirely new level. The residents of Tokyo are required to separate their trash into 45 categories, yes you read that right 45! This makes sure that every piece of trash finds its proper place. This attention to detail has helped Japan become one of the world’s top recyclers. This may have seemed like an overwhelming task at first but the people have adopted it as a way of life and has significantly reduced the amount of trash that heads to their landfills. It just shows that if a customer base is given a mandate but given an easy way to complete their mission they will adopt it and it can flourish.

3. Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is the most successful example of turning waste into energy. The city burns almost all of its waste to generate heat and electricity, providing power to thousands of homes. Sweden actually imports waste from other countries to keep its energy plants running. This innovative approach helps reduce landfill waste while keeping homes warm and energy-efficient. Turning waste into energy is a crucial part of Stockholm’s sustainability strategy, ensuring that non-recyclable waste serves a useful purpose.

4. Singapore

Singapore is known as a super clean country and they have a very well-managed trash system. The city uses an underground vacuum trash system that transports trash to its local the Singapore landfill and almost gets rid of the need for garbage trucks. Singapore’s Landfill is one of the world’s most sustainable landfill projects it is built on an island so there is no impact on the land they live on. The country has very strict littering laws, they have effective public education programs and they make huge investments in the most cutting-edge waste technology. Singapore planned ahead with its vacuum system and having an extra "trash" island was a nice feature to help with its trash.

5. Curitiba, Brazil

In Curitiba, they have a program for low-income residents to exchange recyclable materials for food. This program helps recycling rates and also helps combat poverty and food issues. By implementing this program it helps their trash problem as well as the community.

6. Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is the best in the world when it comes to recycling. They have mandatory trash separation and extremely advanced recycling facilities. This gets them to an impressive 93% recycling rate. Residents are charged per bag of trash, which reduces waste output and they recycle as much as possible because recycling is free. The city is very strict with its trash regulations and this combined with the resident's cooperation makes Zurich the cleanest place on earth.

Final Thoughts

So better recycling habits, composting, or converting trash into energy solutions help to make your town and even country cleaner. The next time you take out the trash, consider how small changes in your daily habits could contribute to a larger movement toward sustainability.