Sweden is aiming for a zero-waste society. This takes the country’s recycling revolution one step further – from dumping rubbish in landfills to recycling to reuse. Sweden is a global leader in many areas but it really stands-out when we talk about recycling.
In 2016 there were 212,500 tonnes of plastic on the Swedish market. About half was recycled. The fact is that Sweden uses trash to fuel incineration plants, where waste is turned into, among other things, new products, raw materials, and heat.
The Swedish system for recycling of packaging is based on producer responsibility. Regardless of the type of material the packaging is made of – paper, plastic, metal, wood or glass – the producers are responsible. Producer responsibility also applies to newsprint. Among other things, this implies that the producers are obligated to set up collection and recycling systems for packaging and newsprint.
Packaging and newsprint are collected through collection systems. There are public recycling stations where consumers can discard packaging and newsprint in separate containers. Recycling stations are found in all of Sweden, and most of the packaging and newsprint from households is collected this way. There are also solutions for kerbside collection in places such as multi-compartment bins or separate containers in apartment buildings. A national deposit refund system for PET bottles and aluminum cans is also in place.
31-year-old Swedes Daniel Silberstein says:
A big part of it is thinking about what kind of environment our daughter is going to have in the future. I am a kid of the 1990s and not recycling is kind of abnormal for us, but for Charlie’s generation, it will hopefully go even further. She already thinks it’s fun to push the cartons into the recycling station when I take her.
In the mid-70s only 38% of household waste in Sweden was recycled. For comparing – today that figure has jumped to an astounding 99%. Sweden’s goal of ‘zero waste’ is almost reached.
In the cities, there are many recycling areas located in convenient spots, while larger centers are located further, where you can drop off sorted household items like wine bottles, soup cans, light bulbs, and newspapers. Especially after a holiday, these centers are overrun with recycling, but the trucks come every day to empty the bins.
Larger items can be brought to larger recycling centers or picked up by special trucks. Sweden has implemented the reward system, in which you pay more if you buy plastic bottles and metal cans, but you get back when you deliver them to the return centers in grocery stores.
Photo credit: Source: Swedish EPA. Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se
So how Sweden managed to achieve that?
Back in 1991, Sweden was one of the first countries to implement a heavy tax on fossil fuels, today almost 50% of all electricity is generated from renewables.
Plastics, glass, metal and paper, all of it is recycled and turned into new products. Even food is composted to become soil or biogas, and wastewater is purified to be potable. And one side benefit is that heavy metal emissions have been reduced by 99% since the mid-80s, despite Sweden incinerating three times more waste today than back then.
In 2017 the Swedish government reformed the tax system so that people could get cheaper repairs on used items, and Swedish clothing giant H&M operates a recycling scheme where customers get a discount upon handing in old clothes. Meanwhile, researchers are working on finding new clothing materials that are less damaging to the environment.
Sweden’s reuse revolution would not be possible without those who do the literal dirty work of handling Sweden’s rubbish.
Most people in Sweden, though, believe that even more can be done. Sweden’s recycling program works so well that they ran out of trash and start importing from Norway, the UK, other countries. All that is used to heat homes and create new products, which means that Sweden will not deplete natural resources.
‘In the future we’ll look at the old style of recycling the way we look at fossil fuels and landfill sites today. It will all seem crazy.’
So next time you think of throwing that water bottle, soda can, or newspaper in with all the other mixed-up trash – think again: if Swedes can manage to recycle everything in sight, no matter how small their flat is, you can as well.
Uruguay is a South American country known for its verdant interior and beach-lined coast. The capital, Montevideo, revolves around Plaza Independencia, once home to a Spanish citadel. The name Uruguay means a river of colorful birds. It is a word in Guarani that was spoken by the natives of the area.
15 Must-Visit Attractions in Uruguay
Uruguay is one of the most eco-friendly countries in South America and it is pretty liberal as marijuana and gay marriage are legal, and it is also.
Montevideo is the capital and largest city of Uruguay. It is a city with a long history and a rich culture, founded in 1724.
With WiFi available in public places and e-scooters filling the city, Montevideo is leading Latin America’s digital revolution.
The exchange of culture and traditions has always nourished Montevideo’s literary movements. The capital is home town of many renowned writers, including Mario Benedetti and Juan Carlos Onetti.
The oldest part of Montevideo, La Ciudad Viejais is mostly cobblestoned with many historical buildings showing the colonial history of Montevideo city such as the cathedral, main plaza and several museums.
San Gregorio de Polanco is a small city in the Tacuarembó Department of northern-central Uruguay. It is one of the best tourist attractions in Uruguay because of its pure healthy air, abundant flora, and blue aqua.
This small town has only 3,000 residents, but there are plenty of things to do including a visit to the native visual arts museum, the excellently adorned OSE water tank, and the regional parish with the art gallery inside.
Salto is an affordable and it offers enough attractions make life interesting. It is the second largest city in Uruguay with a population over 110,000.
Some of the attractions include the Salto Grande hydroelectric Dam shared by Argentina and Uruguay and the AcuaMania Waterpark.
The city owes its name to the Spanish word used to refer to the many falls of water created by the Uruguay River in that area.
Nueva Helvecia is 120 kilometres west of Montevideo, the capital and largest city of Uruguay and just a few miles from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Nueva Helvecia was the first tourist area in the country. The city has plenty to offer to visitors with its history, culture, local cuisine and natural surroundings full of beauty.
The region is famous for its dairy production. Travelers can visit an artisan cheese factory and learn about the production of different cheeses.
Some of the tourist attractions include the Plaza de los Fundadores, the city gate, Regional Archive Museum, the José Pedro Varela Municipal Park, the OSE tank, with its unusual architecture and the Schöenstatt Shrine.
Piriápolis is located in the Department of Maldonado, only one hour away by car from the City of Montevideo. This historic town is about 40 km west of Punta del Este. Piriápolis was the first beach resort in Uruguay and one of the most popular.
The weather from November to April is pleasantly warm and dry, perfect for plenty of beach time. June to September is cooler and wetter. The active season is between December and March.
There is also a natural reserve of native and rare South America fauna.
Rocha has some of the very best beaches in Uruguay and visitors can enjoy them almost ten months of the year. This is a place with wild isolated beaches and surprising nature is yet to be fully discovered.
In recent years many visitors have discovered the great personality of this fishing village on a rocky point where the sea has sculpted to create almost perfect round shapes and strange stone seas.
The beaches are spectacular; Brava is the southwest, with waves that cut special blue-green. It is ideal for children Mansa Beach, a quiet and huge wind sheltered bay.
Tacuarembó town is fairly small and easily walkable. However, a good number of attractions lie out of town and you’ll need your own transport to reach them. It is located in the heart of the country about 200miles away from the capital.
Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha is a big event during the second weekend of March. It celebrates countryside life and customs. Accommodation is a big issue at the festival.
Some 150 sculptures and murals outdoors exhibits can be enjoyed in public and private spaces in various parts of the Tacuarembó department.
The economy of Durazno largely depends on agriculture and agrotourism. The raising of sheep, and of cattle.
The Yí and Negro Rivers and large streams and in the lakes Rincón del Bonete and Baygorria.
Attractions in Durazno include important events such as the Folklore Festival and the ‘Meeting of the Gauchos’, places like the Hispanidad Park, located a few kilometers from the city, the church of San Pedro Parish, Regional Art Museum, Casa del General Museum.
Carmelo is famous with its winemaking. Winemaking was brought to the region over a hundred years ago by European immigrants. It is one of Uruguay’s largest wine-producing area.
The very alkaline soil with fossils creates a perfect microclimate for vines.
Points of interest in this area are Punta Gorda, Zagarzazú and Colonia Estrella. Close to Colonia Estrella is the Zagarzazú beach.
Nearby places are the picturesque Colonia, historic Fray Bentos, and the spa towns of Paysandú and Salto.
Carmelo is an ideal destination for those looking for a place to relax and for wine lovers tourism due to the large variety of vineyards and wineries.
Cabo Polonio is a rocky point that stands 15 meters above the ocean, with two inhabited islands across one of the largest reserves of sea lions in the world.
There is no water or electricity in Cabo Polonio. This place is attracting many bohemians and backpackers.
You can just lay on the beach and forget about all the luxuriate.
Punta del Este is a city and resort on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay.
Some popular attractions in the area include the La Mano giant sculpture, the Santorini-styled complex Casapueblo, the Enjoy Punta del Este hotel and casino complex, La Barra neighborhood, the iconic Puente Garzón, Gorriti Island, Arboretum Lussich, and the Museum of the Sea. Here is also the Ralli Museum, featuring exquisite pieces of modern and contemporary Latin American art.
Paysandú is one of Uruguay’s most important cities. It is located in the northern part of Uruguay. Due to the historical events in this area, Paysandú is important tourist attraction. Just a few miles away you’l find the Guaviyú and Almirón hot spring resorts.
Some of the attractions of this beautiful historical city include the Historical Museum or the Perpetuity Monument where you can learn a part of the rich and booming history of the city.
Paysandú has many events, including Beer Week – one of the most important events celebrated in Uruguay, which attract many tourists from all over the world.
It is the last coastal resort of Uruguay and it is bordering with Brazil to the southeast. What is interesting is that the main street in Chuy is the actual border between Uruguay and Brazil.
The border is open, so you’re free to cross back and forth between the Brazilian city Chuí and Chuy.
Chuy’s residents are mostly Uruguayans and Brazilians, with almost all its residents speaking Spanish and Portuguese.
It has long beaches which makes it ideal for long walks on the beach. Some points of interest are the Santa Teresa Park, the San Miguel Fort.
“Chui” was also the name the Indians gave a yellow-breasted bird.
Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, across the Río de La Plata from Buenos Aires. It’s known for its cobblestoned Barrio Histórico, lined with buildings from its time as a Portuguese settlement.
It has a long history and it was founded by the Portuguese in 1680 on the Río de la Plata, the city was of strategic importance in resisting the Spanish.
The historic Colonia del Sacramento is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995 and attracts thousands of visitors during the year from around the world. Travelers can enjoy a unique landscape with spectacular views of Río de la Plata.
Main photo credit: Wagner T. Cassimiro “Aranha” Wikipedia
Eating less meat is better for animals, people and the planet. You can reduce your meat consumption by eating some vegan or vegetarian meals and by reducing the amount of meat you eat in each meal.
World’s leading health organizations now encourage a reduction in the amount of meat people consume. The World Cancer Research Fund recommends we “choose mostly plant foods, limit red meat and avoid processed meat”. A study by Oxford University’s department of public health found that eating meat no more than three times a week could prevent 31,000 deaths from heart disease, 9,000 deaths from cancer and 5,000 deaths from stroke, as well as save billions of dollars.
The cost of meat has risen 10 percent in the last decade. Plant proteins such as lentils, peas or dried beans cost less than the equivalent amount of animal protein. Eating less meat can save you money!
Below you can find the 10 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Meat Consumption
2. Ensure you get enough protein from vegetarian sources instead, like lentils and almonds.
Proteins are essential nutrients for the human body. They are one of the building blocks of body tissue and can also serve as a fuel source. The Recommended Daily Allowance of protein is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.
If you really like your meat, add ‘meaty’ flavors by using dried mushrooms or soya sauce, and ‘meaty’ textures like aubergines following this mushroom risotto recipe.
7. Bulk up meat dishes with beans, grains or vegetable.
Try adding extra carrot into a Bolognese. Or if you are making beef burgers, try putting some cooked lentils into the mixture to make lentil and beef burgers.
8. Reach for whole and unprocessed snacks rather than vegan junk food
Carrots and hummus or apples with peanut butter rather than cookies – as getting maximum nutrition means you will feel the most satisfied with your meal.
Billions of animals are killed for meat each year. Most of them are raised in overcrowded cages, with no room and no access to daylight or fresh air. All farmed animals end their lives with a brutal death. Reducing consumption and eating less meat is a step that helps not only animals but the environment as well.
The facts:
Animals convert plant protein and energy into meat protein and energy inefficiently.
12 kgs of grain are necessary to produce 1 kg of beef.
This means that the amount of the world’s available nutrients is reducing disproportionally.
Over 800 million people on the planet are suffering from hunger or malnutrition, and the amount of cereal that could be enough to feed three times this number of people is used to feed stocks.
Stop the extinction of species
Agricultural expansion and overfishing are the two major factors causing loss of species and biodiversity. If we do not stop this, in the next 100 years will be a global mass extinction of species.
Check out these article for more tips about how to eat more environmentally-friendly.
