Recycling Round the World

The Global Face of Recycling

Recycling is such an easy way to be eco-friendly. It saves our natural resources, reduces pollution and creates jobs! It’s a great way to fight climate change every day.

But recycling practices differ worldwide.

Here are some examples of how the global recycling movement varies from country to country as it relates to both policy and profit:

India:

In Dharavi, India, many people make a living by creating their own recycling factories. It is estimated that the self-made recycling industry employs roughly 200,000 people in the country
India recycles roughly 40 percent of their e-waste a year.
Europe:

Austria is by far the leader in this part of the world by recycling roughly 60 percent of its waste
The majority of recycling in the UK is handled by authorities. They institute incentives in order to encourage individuals and businesses to recycle, reduce, and reuse
Japan & China:

In China, recycling isn’t just a citizen responsibility, its become second nature. 2.5 million people are estimated to collect recyclables off the street. These scrap collectors earn the equivalent of $150 a month (about half of what a cab driver earns in that country in the same time frame)
Beijing has built the world’s largest recycling facility and continues to install recycling bins around the city. The city of Beijing hopes to increase their recycling rate from 10% to 80% by 2010

Earth Hour

Earth Hour
The World Wide Lights Out Event for a Greener Planet

To Participate:
Turn your lights off for one hour at 8:30pm. March 28.

Live Earth and Twestival

Participate in a festival for charity!


On Thursday, nearly 200 cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals for an evening of fun and benefiting a great cause. By rallying together globally, under short timescales, for a single aim on the same day, the Twestivals hope to raise as much as $1 million for charity: water while bringing awareness to the global water crisis. Live Earth is proud to be the offical video partner for the global Twestivals. Click here to find a Twestival near you or click here to donate directly to charity: water.
View Twestival video and upload your own at video.liveearth.org.



Valentine's Day is Saturday!

February 14th is Valentine's Day and you want to be prepared, but while you're at it why not show some love for the planet too. It doesn't take much to green your Valentine's Day. You will be surprised at how much love you can spread around the world. Check out these ten ways you can show your loved one you care about them and the planet.


Will Businesses Get Greener in 2009?

The annual State of Green Business Report sets out to measure the environmental impacts of major businesses around the world. This year's study revealed mixed results: More companies were doing more things, but moving the needle of environmental progress only slightly. Find our more about how Green Business might impact you


Remember, if you can't get out to one of the hundreds of Twestivals on Thursday, they'll be streaming live at video.liveearth.org.