The difference between European countries and America is becoming so stark. Anyone reading or watching global news has to see how backwards this country is and that it’s only getting worse.
In 2018. Times have changed since then. The store that I frequent just doesn’t sell bags anymore, not even reusable. They sell a foldable cartboerd box if you really need something to carry your groceries. Most people who shop there use foldable crates. Those who don’t come by car use backpacks or those old lady shopping trolleys.
That is probably even worse. Cardboard is rarely recycled and also has a large environmental footprint. The stats are really saying otherwise particularly the profits the supermarket chains are making on this policy.
I just looked up the numbers for Belgium (where I live). A quick search so I only found some old data. Of the cardboard that is collected nearly 78% got recycled in 2012. I bet the figures are higher these days.
Yes of the cardboard that is recycled, 78% may end up as some new item. But I bet only 10% of actual cardboard actually ends up in recycling centers.
