The Throw Away Society

Many countries bury and forget millions of tonnes of rubbish every year.

But we don't have to throw away all our waste: paper, glass, metal and plastic.

We can also burn or recycle a lot of it. In fact waste can be wonderful stuff. 

Data-File

        # The average person in Los Angeles throws away 7 kilos of rubbish every day.

        # The average person in the Third World throws away only 1 kilo of rubbish every day.

        # Britain throws away 7 million tonnes of paper every year. That's the same as 80 million trees.

        # In one year, an European family with two children throws away 50 kilos of paper (that's six trees), 60 kilos of metal, 45 kilos of plastic.

        # In one year, the average person throws away... 71 food cans, 34 cans of pet food and 68 drinks cans.

        # Britain produces 8.5 billion cans per year. Half are for food and half are for drinks.That's enough to go to the moon and back and half-way to the moon again.

        # England and Wales produce 500 tonnes of rubbish every year. This costs £600 million to collect and bury. 

Packaging

Almost all supermarket food today comes in paper or plastic container. Some of this packaging is necessary. It keeps the food clean and fresh. It also makes it last longer. But some packaging isn't necessary at all. It's just there to make the food look better.

(Source: The Green World - Macmillan Dossier)

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