according to research done by USA Strategies (www.usa-strategies.com) and its partner firm EMG (www.emg.nl).
The research reports that Europeans have recycled for years, and have a high interest in their environment and the recycling process. However, people in the U.S. tend to choose convenience over recycling. In China, there is a general lack of knowledge about recycling, although people are concerned about their environment.
Every year, Europe produces 21 million tons of post-consumer plastic waste and recycles 16.5% of it. However, it is expected that the rate of recycling should increase due to the European Union’s implementation of recycling legislation.
The U.S. has begun to adopt “sustainability” by trying to ensure that the lifecycle of a product does not destroy the source of the product or the environment. Despite these efforts, most industry experts are expecting little or no growth in recycling in the U.S. due to the lack of government intervention.
China resembles the U.S., with the lack of government intervention offering little incentive to recycle. The main motivation for consumers to recycle is the buy-back programs they have in place to provide a monetary return.
