This is the result of ignored recycling possibilities. Instead of on this water shoreline, this waste could be your current pad of paper, plastic bottle, kids car seat and much more! RECYCLE!

It is an assumed and generally realistic fact that Americans tend to be inadequately knowledgeable of our friends in Europe. They help us with our wars, they send us material goods, they buy ours and we all go about our lives never really knowing what life is like for our close relatives. We did come from Europe after all, and to say our lives are not influenced directly and indirectly by each other would be naive. It would also be naive to say there are not some aspects of government and personal lifestyle that Europeans have surpassed us in. Although uttering (or writing in this case) these words may seem treasonous to some, maybe those willing to read on may learn a thing or two about ways we can learn from our European brethren.

Ever wondered how Europeans utilize or get rid of their trash? I'm sure it's not on your list of "things I'd like to know in my lifetime" but when you hear a statistic that suggest 60% of all household waste could be recycled or composted, it makes you wonder why still over 50% of our household trash is ending up in landfills and taking up priceless space, habitat and energy. Here is a list of countries and their personal triumphs in recycling.

Switzerland:

-Every supermarket has a "Bottle Bank" where citizens can drop of plastic and glass bottles free of charge. (They even have three separate bins for brown, green and clear bottles)

-Every town has a free paper collection once a month where trucks will come by and pick up your paper for you (That means they can no longer use the excuse "I don't have the time")

-Collections of "green waste"=garden trimmings, take place every two weeks.

Denmark:

-Has become Europe's greenest country with only 6 percent of household waste going to landfills each year!

-The government promotes industry to produce "minimum waste products".

-ONLY 6 PERCENT OF WASTE GOES TO LANDFILLS!

Germany:

-The government can fine citizens for not recycling batteries and chemicals (similar to our new law in Arkansas that bans all electronics and batteries from landfills as of 2010, minus the fine).

-90 percent of German citizens have more than 4 waste cans in their homes, color coordinated for different waste products to make for easier recycling.

Although I must stop here for fear of scaring folks off with an intimidatingly long blog, you get the basic idea. We as Americans are progressing quickly, 28 percent of our waste is recycled, twice as much from 15 years ago, but by studying the reducing, reusing and recycling habits of others we can learn techniques that will only help us grow in our respect and treatment of our environment.

Challenge for the week! Cut out all non-biodegradable styrofoam products. Think about it: once you drink that punch, water, coffee or gobble up that delicious pot luck meal, that styrofoam plate will pollute our landfills, streams and forests for our lifetime and beyond!