Waste disposal in Japan

is there anyone that would actually throw any figures away? sel em' atleast

but regarding the recycling issue, it seems rather pointless, especially here where i live. There is 6 garbage containers (large ones) in which ya' hafta sort out paper, plastic and what not, but to my great shock! one day i stood on higher ground and noticed how they throw everything in the same truck!

But one time I actually had to pay a fine for not recycling right, how is it japan danny? does it happen that someone might get a "postcard" by doing something like this? paying for it, that is

(ID #67643) Posted on 2007/12/23 02:28

reply to atomusku's comment

In singapore we have been burning all combustible waste since our incinerators uses the waste to provide energy on the power grid.
Recycling is enviromental and energy intensive after all, so we have to see if there is benefit from recycling everything or recycling selective materials.

(ID #67644) Posted on 2007/12/23 02:35

reply to tetrflare's comment

You will be surprised how little power you get for burning garbage. Sure it's in the MW area, but it's still nothing compared to burning say coal or oil. It's good to use the heat instead of just wasting it, but it's not like it can be a big player on the power production scene.

You make it sound like it's bad to recycle. It's actually important to recycle as we can recycle stuff that would polute a lot of it ends up in landfills and it's also possible to save energy.

I think the single material that we can benefit the most of recycle is aluminium.
Quote from wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_recycling )
"Only around 5% of the CO2 is produced during the recycling process compared to producing raw aluminium (and an even smaller percentage when considering the complete cycle of mining and transporting the aluminium)"

(ID #400457) Posted on 2008/12/06 07:23

reply to tymmur's comment

We recycle, but admittedly not as diligently as Japanese. We seperate cardboard/paper, plastic bottles, and glass. Then return them to recycle boxes or depot for return deposits.

I have NEVER thrown a gundam away. They were too friggin expensive to get, so I doubt that would ever happen. They just go into their boxes and get stored. Even more so with figures.

(ID #67645) Posted on 2007/12/23 02:36

reply to FatBastard's comment

The term "recycling" is practically unknown to most people in my area >_<

Oh well.. we don't separate trash and such... at all.

Anyway tetrflare, you're right, recycling is energy intensive, which means it requires a lot of fuel, and produces a lot of carbon and other toxins..

(ID #67646) Posted on 2007/12/23 02:42

reply to Benjamin Takeyo's comment

We have recycling services in Canada but I've learned that it's different province to province and more often city to city.

Back home (Sherbrooke, Quebec) we could throw just about anything into the recycling bin and they'd take it and sort it for you.

Here in Ottawa, they won't accept certain materials and the pick-up crew will actually leave it in your bin if you try to sneak it in with the rest. And we must also sort paper and non-paper recyclables as well (as they picked up on alternating weeks).

(ID #67647) Posted on 2007/12/23 02:43

reply to Ben-Ohki's comment

it's very refreshing seeing how japan recycles. in our country (philippines) people don't recycle.. that's why we have mountains of garbage everywhere. this is a very informative article sir danny.. keep up the good work! thanks!

(ID #67648) Posted on 2007/12/23 02:52

reply to Potpot's comment

On campus yes, we recycle seriously. I once threw out a bottle in the trash can and someone came out of their seat to yell at me and lecture me about recycling! I recycle regularly however the convinience was not there (I was in the middle of a class and the room was packed).

I sent out roughly 400 bottles between myself and my roomate to the recycling program here at Penn State. Most of the bottles were water bottles (Fruit20), milk jugs and soda bottles. I always threw the caps away too: its pretty much one cap fits all sizes. It's doing the Earth a good favor.

I now regularly keep old batteries instead of chucking them in the garbage. After I collect a huge cardboard box worth of them (in a couple of years, if not decades) I will have them disposed properly.

For my modeling I recycle my scenery: I was doing this just an hour or so ago. As I sprinkle on, in this case snow, After the cement has set I shake off the excess snow, then angle the newspaper in a funnel shape so I can reuse the scenery that fell off. It saves me money and cleanup.

I also dispose of my toxic chemicals properly (woodworking, metalworking, models). I pour hazardous materials into old laundry detergent bottles my mom needs disposing of. I keep the materials locked away and sealed. When the time comes, due to the nature of my dad's occupation he can have them disposed of properly.

Re-using things is great and everyone should do it. It cuts down on how much garbage I have to take out and it helps the environment.

(ID #67650) Posted on 2007/12/23 02:55

reply to -XYZPDQ's comment

To tack on to my previous comment I never throw away old models despite if they were a screw up or not. The complete mess-ups I keep for kit bashing parts. Even the trees have applications- as an applicator, more importantly a paint mixer or they can be melted for rigging (ship lines).

As for completed kits- I never throw them out. I will either send them off by giving them to relatives/friends or I will contact a few local hospitals to see if a child needs something like a really neat toy to look at. I almost never get a refusal. If I need money, I will auction it off and get a fair price for it =D. Flea markets are not only great for this but shows as well (military expos, weaponry expos, model events, etc).

(ID #67652) Posted on 2007/12/23 03:00

reply to -XYZPDQ's comment

I believe the people here recycle but most of the time everything is thrown away, as it is easier.  I commend those that stand in the hot sun to recycle their cans to get 5 cents back though.  I myself recycle as much as I can, like looking around for a recycle bin/can to throw my soda can in but sometimes it might just be easier to throw it in the normal trash can.

(ID #67653) Posted on 2007/12/23 03:04

reply to syrix's comment

I don't consider myself a die-hard, tree hugging hippie/green peace environmentalist activist but i do recycle whenever i can, i like the whole idea of not generating too much waste and contributing to the efficiency of waste management.

(ID #67656) Posted on 2007/12/23 03:19

reply to necrophadian's comment

We recycle diligently in my household. I make a point when we have parties to make sure everyone throws the recyclable materials where I can put them where they need to go. We have a recycling can (its a large, wheeled bin) which we can throw all recyclable items into: Glass, plastics, paper, and so on. I dont mind doing this, as we usually only have to put the trash and recycling out 1 time a month (when it gets full). No one else I know actually does this though. I feel guilty throwing cans or bottles in the trash. 
As far as throwing Gundams away, I usually give them to my cousins or some such if I dont want one anymore. Id rather someone have them then throw them out. The sprews though, THOSE I throw out. They take up so much space, and are basically useless. I have used some for scratch-building, but with so many models, I dont need the extra. Bandai should figure out a better method of doing this so there isnt as much waste.. actually, I heard they were going to do just that.

(ID #67657) Posted on 2007/12/23 03:22

reply to DRAGUN's comment

hah, gather your junk, throw it to the bin, the garbage man will differ which junk which not,
and unrecyled junk burned all the way.

thank's to that, its burning hot here 

(ID #67658) Posted on 2007/12/23 03:26

reply to hendrik's comment

Recycling is just beginning in Brazil. We already have some cities trying to make a move on it for some time... but most of the times, what we have is only some sort of educational effort.

Because on most cities, we don't have facilities to deal with recycled stuff, or it's more expensive to have one.

Brazil doesn't exactly have a problem with lack of space.

But my city at least has a separate day and separate service to recycled garbage collecting.

Problem on my city is that though sometimes the politics here means well, they don't know how to do things and end up spending tons of money on nothing.

Earlier this year they came up with a plan to get recycled stuff from neighborhoods that the recycling collectors didn't reach. So they installed these huge recycling trashcans on strategical parts of the city.

Didn't work. Couple of months later, they just quietly gave up and removed the trashcans.

(ID #67659) Posted on 2007/12/23 03:43

reply to XSportSeeker's comment

in america everyone recycles every house gets a recycling bin for collection thats collected every 2 weeks, we also get a bonus for recycling too or something like that and a federal tax deduction

(ID #67661) Posted on 2007/12/23 04:20

reply to ケヴィン's comment

I honestly don't know if I'm recycling or not. Sure I put the things in the correct bins and everything, but what happens after that? And why do they take the separated recyclables and throw them all together into the truck?
I just try to focus more on reusing and reducing.

(ID #67662) Posted on 2007/12/23 04:26

reply to Vic Fieger's comment

"in america everyone recycles every house gets a recycling bin for collection thats collected every 2 weeks, we also get a bonus for recycling too or something like that and a federal tax deduction"

This is entirely false. My parents live in a rural community, and recycling is not enforced there. All garbage is combined, with no separation. Where I live in the city, recycling is enforced, and there are no bonuses or tax deductions allowed just because you recycle. I honestly feel recycling wastes resources and pollutes more than it helps (IE: Make Work jobs, exhaust from vehicles sent to collect separate recyclables, increased public works fees, and on and on...) The only exception to this recycling rule is metal cans. It actually costs less and save resources to recycle metal cans than it does to dig up the raw materials to make new metal. You can look this information up online. It's out there. See for yourself.

(ID #67664) Posted on 2007/12/23 04:37

reply to Dak Roland's comment

does this mean that the japanese government will cut down in recycling?

we practice recycling only recently and not as diligently as the japanese and there are still a majority who doesn't practice it >.>

but the Philippines is taking the right road to an eco-friendly country ^__^

(ID #67666) Posted on 2007/12/23 05:16

reply to Henry's comment

"in america everyone recycles every house gets a recycling bin for collection thats collected every 2 weeks, we also get a bonus for recycling too or something like that and a federal tax deduction"

Maybe in California pal. Here in Ohio we get jack shit. You give a very false description of America's recycling habits. In cities and suburbs many people have plastic bins given by the city or the waste disposal company the city has a contract with. They put cans and bottles in that plastic bin and place it in front of their home every week on a designated pickup day. It is not mandatory, not everybody participates in it. Some people just throw that stuff away with the rest of their garbage. In many rural areas people burn their own garbage in a 55 gallon metal drum or other type of fire pit or they take it to their local dump, most of which have a dumpster for recyclable stuff. In some cases like aluminum cans people will save a bunch and take them to a scrapyard where they can get money for them. Some homeless people gather up all the cans they can find to make a bit of money.

(ID #67667) Posted on 2007/12/23 06:03

reply to smokie's comment

Germany has seperate bins for the different kinds of disposals.
Theres the yellow one for plastics, glass and such. Usualy the products which have such a packing have a "green dot" symbol to show that t hey have to be put in the yellow bin.
Then there isa blue one for paper, a grey for the usualy house trash (kind of a mixed bin) and a green one for garden stuff, like mowed lawn, flowers, etc. pp.

Though the colours can differ among the Bundesländer(like 'states' somewhat). not every state has the green bin for example either.

IF the trash isn't sorted propperly, as for example to much paper in the yellow bin, or even foodleftover trash, the junk people which come weekly to empty them won't take em with them and put a sticker on the bin which tells you that it's wrong filled. They mostly indicate this due the weigth and a short view inside.

(ID #67669) Posted on 2007/12/23 06:30

reply to Tami's comment

i never recycle stuff. so sue me!!

(ID #67671) Posted on 2007/12/23 06:32

reply to Setsuna-san's comment

There is NOTHING which is placed inside plastic, that cannot be placed in a recyclable container of some sort. Paper, metals and glass can all be recycled and reused, plastic cannot without serious byproducts also being created. So why not just pass a law that all products which don't HAVE to be made in plastic, such as baby toys be made with something else? Then as the rate of impneding doom turns from 20 years to 50, those gyus at the universities can find a way to get rid of the rest and win themselves a nice scholarship. Everyones happy. 

All companies who comply will be given tax breaks. The money saved on recycling plastics from before will be what they don't have to pay. All companies save the government 10,000,000 bucks, GREAT, they all get an equal amount of tax breaks from that which they saved the people. Doing it won't be cut and dry, but it's a simple plan and it fixes the problem. 

Then, any space left would be spent on imported plastics they just couldn't stop. But that's probably a hell of alot less then what is used daily for any modern country...

(ID #67672) Posted on 2007/12/23 06:54

reply to MACdaddy's comment

@ Smokie.

HAHA Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. I read the first paragraph in your post and thought you were off your rocker! I have lived in Vegas for bout 24 years, east coast for 4, Japan for a couple and now in Cali for 2 years, and I think Japan is the ONLY place that *actually* recycles. We have the recycle bins here in Cali, but only some people use them. Plus, once they are full [if they ever get that way] everyone just throws their stuff in the regular trash regardless.

I guess the problem is that we americans use and throw away more "stuff" then probably any other country. When I lived in Japan I would *just* fill the small trash bin every few days before it had to be taken out. Here? I fill the big ass trash can in a week, almost always.

(ID #67673) Posted on 2007/12/23 07:05

reply to MACdaddy's comment

Here in Singapore, we have recycling bins for aluminium cans, plastic bottles, glass, paper and such located in coffee shop, food court, schools etc. Plastic bags are given to every household for putting in their recyclable materials and are collected weekly.

On the first wednesday of each month, we are encouraged to bring our own plastic bags for shopping. If you don't, they'll charge you a fee for the bags.

I do practice recycling although I'll be lazy and just throw everything away sometimes. I'll never throw, what's more to recycle my figurines even if you poke two straws into my nose.

(ID #67674) Posted on 2007/12/23 07:19

reply to andra's comment

Huzzah.  This'll make my stay in Japan that much more enjoyable.

I have always dreaded their overly meticulous obsessions with trash and recyclables.

(ID #67675) Posted on 2007/12/23 08:22

reply to serogane's comment

i try to litter as much as i can. just becuase some thing that man built is pleasing to stupid humans doesnt mean its no litter. all of the damn roads what do you think all that shyt is. to me its litter. so what the hell i treat my city as my personal garbage dump, cuase thats what it all looks like. the way i figure it, the quicker humans dissapear from this planet the better for the earth to repair its self. as soon as we are gone things will go back to normal.

(ID #67676) Posted on 2007/12/23 08:59

reply to M3R30N3R's comment

Ah. Great. The Garbage post.

All I can say about this is that during my times in Japan, they ALWAYS return trash to our front door, with, of course a really polite note that said "you put one tiny piece of wood in this bag of rotten eggs, please take care of it!". On the f_cking doorstep. Gross.


Pretty boring subject though, hey Danny why dont you write a post about Yakuza in Japan (considering it is the subject matter of countless mangas and animes)?

Thanks.

(ID #67677) Posted on 2007/12/23 09:20

reply to Sean's comment

i still have problem sorting out the garbage into different category.. kudos to the japanese for doing it so well

(ID #67678) Posted on 2007/12/23 11:32

reply to Keith's comment

i'm always impressed at the way the japanese take their recycling seriously. 

in singapore most people has no habit of recycling. it's very sad when everytime i walk past a recycling collecting bin, i always see garbage inside. :-(

for example when someone finish his/her drink, he/she will just throw the whole  paper cup into the paper recycling bin. :-(

 

(ID #67679) Posted on 2007/12/23 13:06

reply to gordon's comment

I thought Singapore fined heavily for everything and that would stop people from doing bad stuff. Maybe they should jail people for not recycling and you will notice that everybody starts to take it serious :P

(ID #400458) Posted on 2008/12/06 07:26

reply to tymmur's comment

I worked in a recycling plant for a while, and people in Canada really don't watch what they put in their recycle! You find forks and knives, barbie dolls and old food all the time and then have to seperate it all.

(ID #67683) Posted on 2007/12/23 15:29

reply to mavadotar's comment

I remember when I was in Germany for a month, I was wondering why some things cost so much and there are 2 prices. After awhile I learned that you have to pay more and will get back the difference when u return the glass/plastic bottles. That the extent of recycling there.
In france there are different bins and people do use them actively. My relatives I stayed with will walk to a specific bin some few 100 meters away to throw the less frequently recycled items.

(ID #67685) Posted on 2007/12/23 15:55

reply to tetrflare's comment

@gordon
i though it's ok to do that -_-'
i'll try littering the chemical 1st then, whenever i came to singapore

(ID #67687) Posted on 2007/12/23 16:04

reply to hendrik's comment

naw i'm not really into the recycle thing, the only thing i recycle are the soda cans (the rest i throw away cuz' i'm so fu&$#@ lazy -.-), but it's really interesting how they segregate the non-burnable stuff from the burnable in Japan (i didn't know about this ^^)

(ID #67690) Posted on 2007/12/23 17:29

reply to lin-da-kenobi's comment

Here is normal to recycle everything thats is recyclable. Most of the items are made in order to be recycled later, this not only does recycling simple(you don't have to cut stuff or dry it) and the item made out of the recycled component is more cheap. Al the cities have recycling gathering centers(translated, something like that), were machinery and other kind of material that doesn't has a place on the small recycling places all hover the cities have, so that all the material is recycled. Everything has a use, even the normal garbage(fuel).
Here is a list of the bins colors:
    * Green: glass
    * Yellow: metal (cans) and plastics
    * Blue: paper
    * Reed: batteries
    * Black: wood
    * Orange: danger residues
    * Withe: medical residues
    * Purple: radioactive
    * Brown:  organics
    * Grey: none recyclable material or contaminated material that is unable to be recycled.

(ID #67691) Posted on 2007/12/23 18:08

reply to microdark's comment

@M3R30N3R, I live in Phx too, so stop being a child and pick up after yourself. If you want to trash something, trash your place. Theres no reason I should pay higher taxes because you are lazy and have such disregard for the rest of the human race. You think earth would be better without humans? Maybe some of them, which I guess by your actions you are included in. Dont like it? Then stop complaining and make a difference.

@Dak Roland: LOL! I love when I tell people about NY and they always look at me funny when I talk about the forests and such. "Forests? In New York? .. In between the skyscrapers you mean?"... Yes, because NY is only as big as Manhattan Island.. sigh.

(ID #67694) Posted on 2007/12/23 20:10

reply to DRAGUN's comment

Never really took a look at Recycling. I just throw my stuff at the right garbage cans when ever I can.

(ID #67695) Posted on 2007/12/23 20:47

reply to Hachiko's comment

I only recycle batteries, electonics and newspapers. Anything else is burnable, and as such will end up being burnt.

(ID #67698) Posted on 2007/12/23 22:09

reply to Xaanin's comment

My first time in Japan I was not aware of this odd ritual of separating trash out as you through it away.  That was probably the biggest cultural shock for me.  

I doubt you could ever get people in America to do this, we have a hard enough time just putting our waste in the trash.

(ID #67702) Posted on 2007/12/24 02:06

reply to CrankyTexan's comment

I'm pretty up with recycling. However I'm not as the Japanese are when they wash their recyclables. I've never thought about it much but does it help when you guys wash it out Danny? Is there something behind that?

(ID #67703) Posted on 2007/12/24 03:51

reply to Jonny Boy's comment

in Chicago they  had a city wide  recycling program until it became to expensive to maintain. which is why many municipalities  don't practice it .

(ID #67705) Posted on 2007/12/24 05:15

reply to maceo's comment

 Also I read an article some 12 yrs ago about a technique used in Japan to turn solid organic  waste into edible food complete with beef and chicken flavoring,  has anyone heard of this process or what was it called? 

(ID #67706) Posted on 2007/12/24 05:17

reply to maceo's comment

I am happy to say I am dedicated to recycling. 
I, on the contrary of one guy here who *Holds breath* surely opened his mouth and uttered crap to create controversy and get some nice reply *Ends mini-rant* aim to waste as little as possible and leave the smallest negative impact on the environment.
I always shake my head when I see garbage scattered randomly and recyclable stuff in regular bins.

Not only I go for selective recycling, but I try to convert my parents to that whenever I come visit them (such as now).
They recycle used batteries in an effective manner now, I'm glad... Next step for them will be to recycle used medicine. lol.

Oh, before I forget...
*Walks haphazardly in comical manner, gives Setsuna-san a honorary ticket and disappears again*

(ID #67707) Posted on 2007/12/24 05:33

reply to D_Blade's comment

My mom and I recycle our garbage, though not to the extend of cutting a milk carton open and hang it up to dry (we do wash the inside). We seperate our trash into household trash (mostly plastics), "green" trash and paper (mostly cartons).

(ID #67748) Posted on 2007/12/24 16:34

reply to JapanAnime's comment

in the effort to seperate garbage...
in the effort to use a sustainable architecture...
in the effort to create a more green environment for the future...

(ID #67753) Posted on 2007/12/24 18:12

reply to Dead Snake's comment

Well... Garbage disposal is quite expensive here in Switzerland so people are motivated by money to recycle. Paper are collected once every two weeks and carboard once a month. There are many collection points for PET bottles (every supermarket has one) and collection points for glass and metal are widespread, too.

Shops that sells electronics are obliged to take your old stuff since for a few years, you have to pay for the disposal when you buy elecronics.

For all other stuff recyclable stuff, you have to go a recycling center.

So either you recycle and save some bucks while saving the environment or pay the price of being lazy :)

(ID #67761) Posted on 2007/12/24 22:39

reply to jou's comment

I compost everything possible, and recycle the rest.

(ID #67827) Posted on 2007/12/25 14:06

reply to vbob's comment

I love how loyal the Japanese are with their recycling processes. 

The Americans, especially Californians, will never be that diligent. For those who don't recycle - just start off with a paper bag for paper and regular bin for regular waste - you'll get used to it in no time. Then, start a bin for the plastic bottles. Have all three different types of bins together - and recycling will be much simpler. 

(I feel like a propaganda person) - anyway, recycling is really not that hard.

(ID #67839) Posted on 2007/12/25 21:15

reply to liedphon's comment

i do practise recycle at home...i separate paper & others...coz here usually the recycle bins are allocated for papers & others(plastic,tin can,glass bottle)..but i didnt go to the extend of cutting,washing,drying of milk boxes etc...too tedious..

(ID #67931) Posted on 2007/12/27 06:10

reply to Izam215's comment

I recycle newspaper and plastic bottles mainly to sell them to old people roaming the streets looking for non-biodegradable waste to sell to junk shops (which is their main source of living).

Extra money + charity = WIN!

(ID #67973) Posted on 2007/12/27 21:43

reply to coeli's comment

The Japanese waste management system is air-tight. You dont wanna mess with the people who take caer of your trash, believe me.. *shudders*

(ID #69427) Posted on 2008/01/12 15:12

reply to Hijiku's comment

In where i live in ..hmmm not that people don't want to recycle or practice it just the condition that did not allow it. Why I say like that because you can not see any recycle dustbin, but lately this pass few year the government take some action since the place to bury this rubbish is running out. They have make a few move such as introducing the recycle bin to each school. This mean that educate the young about loving their environment bu recycle. One thing that i know is you would be a  millionaire by just collecting this what people call rubbish and recycle it. I have seen many success in this business. 

(ID #230864) Posted on 2008/07/06 03:01

reply to Apsolyte's comment

Many areas of Australia are supplied with two or more large outdoor bins for each home, one for non-recyclable refuse and another for all recyclables (some areas have a third bin for garden refuse/decomposable materials like vegetable peels etc). Some areas sadly have no recycling collection service. We are encouraged to rinse out recyclables and remove labels (and caps?) but I think many people do, but the majority do not. I do whenever I can remember. We have a weekly garbage collection and a fortnightly recyclable collection, both in different trucks. Some areas are trialling a single seperated compartment truck for both bins in an effort to reduce costs and carbon emissions which I think is sensible. Recyclables are taken to a plant where employees manually sort them by hand and they are then transported to the relevant recycling plant. I watched a show about it once, some of the things the employees found amongst the recyclables was gross and I think out of empathy for those workers I started to rinse out my recyclables. I think many people use their recycling bin for general refuse when their normal bin is full.

I really like the system in Japan and I'm disappointed to hear that Tokyo will abolish a system that's been in place for 35+ years. It begs the question though, why is so much recyclable material going to landfill that they would need to consider burning it instead? Is a lot of it tainted? Why not better educate the people and institute some enforcable laws? Regardless of new technology I find it difficult to believe that burning megatonnes of plastic will not yield masses of toxic by-products. When I'm in Japan I sometimes have to ask my wife which bag to put certain items in at home as it's not always clear to me, but that little extra effort is not much to ask. I feel Australia could reduce it's recycling expenses and increase the amount of untainted recyclable materials if everyone was a bit more educated about what they need to do and if we had enforcable laws about recycling properly. I wouldn't want to be the bin inspector though....

(ID #277691) Posted on 2008/08/25 15:00

reply to sonar928's comment

I used to be diligent with recycling like, seven years ago, but the last two places I've lived have made it VERY inconvenient. At my parent's house, they'd have to drive an hour to the plant itself to get anything recycled!

I heard that Japan had bought some plasma gassification systems for disposing of garbage--if they've already got them online, then this decision to burn plastics makes perfect sense.  Seriously, the millitary here in the US bought plasma gassification systems to dispose of some of their older chemical weapons because it's the most efficient and least dangerous way to get rid of them.  The only thing plasma gassification can't get rid of is nuclear waste. 

(ID #397704) Posted on 2008/12/04 03:44

reply to Poofiemus's comment

Where I live in england we have a normal waste bin and a recycled waste bin. I always recycle plastic bottles, cardboards, papers, tins and glass. 

(ID #399963) Posted on 2008/12/05 21:39

reply to aquilla's comment

can we recycle gundam plastic!

(ID #400048) Posted on 2008/12/05 22:48

reply to ar's comment

Over here we do recycle 

Yellow bin for Plastic,Metal,Tetrapaks etc.
Blue Bin for Paper
Grey Bin for usual Waste like food etc.
Brown for composable materials

I recycle aswell but im not washing milkcartons out etc,

Throwing figures away?Never! If i had to part id atleast sell em

(ID #400066) Posted on 2008/12/05 22:58

reply to Blowfish's comment

of course Im for recycling
but not if I have to do it

in my opion the consumer should through everything in one bag, end of story.

the government or any organization / corparation should be entirely dedicated to do that.


But it is also a technological problem... It's pathetic that mankind can produce goods but cannot recycle them at all in some cases... science could fix it... its pathetic D=

(ID #400084) Posted on 2008/12/05 23:22

reply to Okita's comment

this is part of why i admire Japan !

you guys are respecting your environment, you have strict rules and codes for everything

but at the end, it's very efficient and innovative


great !

(ID #400120) Posted on 2008/12/05 23:49

reply to froggy's comment

i love the enviroment, i hope it lasts until i pass away, then it can rot in hell...haha

but seriously...people should start thinking about the future theyre about to live in...

thank alot for screwing us...

(ID #400273) Posted on 2008/12/06 02:47

reply to Tasche's comment

In Czech, there's a lot of people who don't recycle.
We have one container for plastic, one for glass, one for paper, one for usual waste like food and some non-recyclable boxes and wrappings. And there is also a container for tetra-packs but this one is only at few places I know about. I've looked on some pages about recycling in Czech and they write about two more containers, one for dangerous waste such as batteries, glue, oil, and one for bio-waste, but I've never seen either of them.

(ID #400287) Posted on 2008/12/06 02:59

reply to Matteas's comment

recycling takes different forms here all together. first at home we sell the cardboard, plastic, glass, metal and paper to recyclers instead of dumping them. the organic part like vegetable stalks, leaves, egg shells are dumped together with some non usable paper, carton boxes, etc including plastic. 

in the dumping areas, there are people who scavenge the paper, glass, etc and burn the trash in search of metal and other things. so in the end only mounds of ash is left. the amount of toxins released in the air is hazardous but atleast the plastics dont pollute the land anymore. (i know they now pollute the air, but to gain something you loose something)

(ID #400342) Posted on 2008/12/06 03:59

reply to 6pack's comment

So you are saying that we can cut down on polution if we make some people so poor that they will have to live on what they find on landfills? I would really like to see some political party showing up with that plan when campaigning for an election XD

You know, ash can actually be quite an environmental danger. Ash isn't just ash, but it contains a whole cocktail of all sorts of non-burned stuff.

(ID #400463) Posted on 2008/12/06 07:43

reply to tymmur's comment

 Well, I voted "Yes" because I take recycling seriously. Here, in Bulgaria, we too have containers for plastic, glass and paper but no one cares where he throws his  garbage. And since those special containers are always 100% full I use the old ones. 
 One thing I can't stand is seeing people litter, spit and so. Sometimes tehy throw their cigarette ends on the street. I step on them when I can, just in case!

(ID #400348) Posted on 2008/12/06 04:10

reply to うちは サスケ's comment

I know I should, but the nearest recycling facility is at least a half-hour to a hour away therefore recycling isn't emphasized in my community.  Recently, I have heard plans to start implementing more eco-friendly policies, but I live in a pretty backwards area of America that still believes that global warming was created by scientists with liberal agendas.

(ID #400446) Posted on 2008/12/06 06:39

reply to exurbanotaku's comment

The global temperature has been a political hot potato for quite a while. First we were heading for a new ice age. Then some Swedish scientist came up with the idea of CO2 and warming up the planet but nobody believed him at first. Eventually (years later) CO2 became the official reason for global warming and politicians used it when they claimed themselves to be environmentalists. Other people came up with solar activity and cosmic radiation as explanations to the altered global temperature. Recently the UN panel came up with a report claiming that sod causes global warming. Confused?

The problem in all of this is that none of the theories has been proven to be the cause of the current temperature. In fact there is no hard evidence that CO2 is causing changed temperature at all. There is one quality in CO2 though. It can be measured and the UN research panel believes in it. This makes it good for politicians who can tax CO2. They can also reduce CO2 and provide measurements to proof that their strategy is working so they can be reelected.

Personally I never believed in CO2. Somehow the physics fails to work out when I look at it (I'm an engineer btw, studying to gain a master degree). I do believe in the theory about a cloud of sod that traps the heat. Sod is a black particle with low reflection so it's known that it works like a heat battery. This makes it build up heat, not only from the sun, but also the heat that escapes the planet surface during the night. The result is that less heat escapes during the night and we have a buildup. Also sod falling down on snow (glaciers, the poles and so on) will reduce the reflection of the surface. This means that the same amount of light energy will heat up the snow/ice more than it would with a clean white surface. So far I haven't found anywhere where sod can't explain global warming and/or sideeffects of global warming (I haven't had much time to investigate since UN came up with the sod report quite recently though).

I guess I can write a whole lot more about this, but the comment is already pretty long. If anybody is interested I can tell more about it, but I think the main point is already stated ^^

(ID #400486) Posted on 2008/12/06 08:32

reply to tymmur's comment

my family uses recycling centers we have large Recycling centers where i live you can take Aluminum, plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, copper wire, they give you money for recycling 0_0 so yeah we take recycling seriously. for times we can't get to the recycling center you know for like 1 plastic cup while we are out shopping there is recycle bins. and i have never thrown away a toy when i was growing up. if my toy broke and lost an arm or a leg he is now a wounded in battle toy. so i probably would just keep the figure or Gundam if it broke. it would be regrettable if my figure or Gundam broke though.

(ID #400453) Posted on 2008/12/06 07:19

reply to thebarrett's comment

WHAT?! gundams are not recyclable? BAKANA!! lol...well I dont practice recycling although I should since I do plan on living in Japan someday. Never hurts to practice early.

(ID #400461) Posted on 2008/12/06 07:41

reply to Jotham's comment

If gundams aren't recyclable then what do you do with a gundam, that lost a combat?

(ID #400490) Posted on 2008/12/06 08:35

reply to tymmur's comment

I've been trying to put what I can in the recycle. Sometimes I forget certain things can go in though. >_<

(ID #400476) Posted on 2008/12/06 08:05

reply to Larein's comment

I recycle a bit.  Its mainly with re-using items for weird uses or frankensteining electronics.  I think some of my favorite items are recycled from something broken or thrown out.

(ID #400480) Posted on 2008/12/06 08:10

reply to Vincent III's comment

Kinda hard to practice it here since my mom always throws everything.
And i mean almost anything...

(ID #400509) Posted on 2008/12/06 09:01

reply to Lelouch Lamperouge's comment

What is recycling seriously? 100%? 80%?
I do recycle, plastics, paper, organic material, glass and more stuff like batteries and oil.

Although some times plastic goes in with the normal trash, and the bin in my room is a bin for pieces of scrap paper and plastic.

Wile I do try to recycle as much as possible, a small amount doesn't get recycled.

I can't really answer your poll, as I don't know what "seriously" is.

But if really made choose, I'd say no, because I'm not checking every little bit.

:3

(ID #400775) Posted on 2008/12/06 13:20

reply to O.i.D's comment

my school is supposed to be one of the "greenest" schools. apparently we were in top 20 in amount of recycling done. i recycle if the bins are available. otherwise everything goes down the bin.  in my apt practically everything goes into the garbage chute. our garbage system isnt as complicated as japans'. it consists usually of garbage and glass/plastic/metal recycling, sometimes paper and yard waste depending on where you are.  

(ID #400945) Posted on 2008/12/06 16:02

reply to myugen's comment

>Below: An example of how diligent the folks over here are about recycling. Milk cartons are cut open, washed and hug to dry before sticking in the recycle bins located at supermarkets.
Great commitment:)

(ID #402863) Posted on 2008/12/08 04:12

reply to Harts's comment