Berlin's Approach to Recycling: Why Not in NYC?
When you’re walking around Berlin, you can’t help but notice the clusters of large recycling bins that dot the city. It got us wondering why New York doesn’t do something similar. It would certainly be simpler and, we’d think, more effective than the current confusing curb-side system. Anyone know the reason?
When you’re walking around Berlin, you can’t help but notice the clusters of large recycling bins that dot the city. It got us wondering why New York doesn’t do something similar. It would certainly be simpler and, we’d think, more effective than the current confusing curb-side system. Anyone know the reason?
Berlin has graffiti everywhere. It’s insane. It’s just a German cultural thing, really. Walking around former West Berlin, and any surface easily reachable is tagged, it seems. So these aren’t any more a magnet for tagging then anywhere else.
I lived in Berlin for almost 10 years, you would be lucky if there are recycling containers like these within 10 blocks from your home and besides, they are for glass bottles only (green, brown, clear), therefore they don’t really smell. Anyway, there are much less beverages sold in glass bottles in NYC and nobody would walk even 1 block instead of just trowing it on the curb… however, people in Germany and probably also in the rest of Europe actually claiming the few cents refund for soda, beer and other bottles at the supermarket, New Yorkers just don’t do that. The containers in Berlin are basically meant for non-refund bottles like wine, champagne, juice, baby food etc.
Eh, lots of cities in Europe have this. It’s pretty ineffective as you have to walk fairly far to recycle. Curbside pick-up is a lot, lot easier.
The truth is that in NYC all the trash ends up in the same place. re-cycling is merely a cynical manipulation on the part of politicians who want to appear environmentally-friendly but who do not want to divert money away from oher sources (like bribes to church congregations at election time)to pay for it.
I know one reason. This is ugly as hell! It probably stinks too. I’m sure that it is a roach and rat magnet! I’ll continue to recycle my own garbage, carefully rinsing and storing it until recycle day.
Thank you Anonymous 3:56 PM, I heard something on the radio, but didn’t catch the details… 🙂
I think Bren just woke up from a bender. Let her know there was explosion on 41/Lex yesterday too. And Bush is still president.
They have similar recycle units at Giants Stadium. They hold a bunch of stuff and people do use them
take it back…looks like last minute deal to proceed with congestion pricing or at least forming a committee to examone it and put forward recommendations…