Sweden Must Import Trash For Energy Conversion Because Its Recycling Program Is So Successful

[pampango]

15. True. Not only do Swedes not add to landfills, they reduce the size of Norway's landfills.

Good for the earth, not just that part of the earth located within lines on a piece of paper.

Swedish households recycle most of their waste; only 4 percent of it ends up in landfills, according to PRI. Sweden makes it mandatory for households to separate recyclables from trash, and producers help handle waste management.

In contrast, Americans recycled just 34 percent of their waste in 2010, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and more than half of U.S. household waste in 2010 ended up in landfills, 136 million tons of garbage in total.

In just one example of U.S. waste, Americans throw away nearly half of their food, costing roughly $165 billion per year, according to a recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Swedes recycle 96% of their waste, Americans 34%. Quite a disparity.