Worldwide Recycling Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Worldwide Recycling Comparison - Essay Example Initially, it was meant to ensure that glass bottles were returned to the major beverage seller at that time which as Coca-Cola. However, it eventually became a tradition that is used on all containers with so much success. Mannonen (2013) states that currently, Finland recycles almost 100 percent of the refillable glass containers. On average, a single glass bottle can be used up to 34 times. This is higher than any other nation in the world. Plastic bottles are also reused and recycled with the return rates standing at about ninety percent. When the plastic bottles are used in remanufacturing, they not only save raw materials but also energy since smaller quantity will be needed. Aluminum cans are endlessly being reprocessed. The cans are melted and used as raw material for new ones with five percent of energy that could have been used when making them from the original raw materials being saved. The latest inclusion to the system are the glass containers which are taken back for the raw materials. They are used in the making of new bottles, industrial frost and in the manufacture of lightweight concrete. Many foreigners who visit the nation are at times surprised when the see the locals luggage empty bottles and containers to shops. To the locals however, this is part of their day to day lives. When they buy drinks packaged in bottles, the price which they pay includes about ten to forty cent deposit. This deposit is given back to the buyer when they return the empty container to the shop. The payment is done through the reverse vending machine. The success of this system can be seen in the high rates of returns. These return rates have rarely been reached in other counties especially when all three packaging media are involved. The systems is monitored by Palpa whose sole goal is to ensure that the nation conserves its environment by keeping the containers used to package