Luddly Neddite
Diamond Member
- Sep 14, 2011
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Models of Sustainability: Sweden Runs Out of Garbage - The Pachamama Alliance
Why can't the US do this?
![recycle.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pachamama.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F11%2Frecycle.jpg&hash=c9b81133ba4be954788c95aec89d5a44)
Due to Swedens innovative waste-to-energy program and highly efficient recycling habits, the Scandinavian nation faces an interesting dilemma. They have run out of trash.
Swedens waste management and recycling programs are second to none as only four percent of the nations waste ends up in landfills. By contrast, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over half of the waste produced by U.S. households ends up in landfills....
In order to continue fueling the waste-to-energy factories that provide electricity to a quarter of a million homes and 20 percent of the entire countrys district heating, Sweden is now importing trash from the landfills of other European countries. In fact, those countries are paying Sweden to do so.
You read that correctly, countries are paying to get rid of a source of fuel they themselves produced so that Sweden can continue to have the energy output they need. You dont have to be an economist to know thats one highly enviable energy model.
Why can't the US do this?