Denmark and the Environment

Denmark has a reputation for being environmentally friendly and forward thinking when it comes to the environment. They are pioneers in wind power and have a very good transportation infrastructure.

But there are lots of ugly truths about Denmark's environmental prowness that are not always discussed and the country has lots of environmental problems which are not addressed, but swept under the carpet.

These are my personal viewpoints and you are welcome to disagree. Being a person who believes in being eco friendly - but not an eco activist, I have seen some things that just don't gel with the whole environmental friendly image.

But there are also some very positive things going on as can be seen in the video below.

Littering

Well that may be the case, but it is only because there are hundeds of people hired to constantly clean up the streets. Danes do not think that throwing trash on the ground is wrong.

When a recent survery was done, people would remark: "If I throw trash on the ground, it will give a person a job cleaning it up. I am helping someone keep their job!"

Now, you would think that is just one nut thinking that, but I have met lots of Danes who think exactly the same way.

Instead of having all these "parking officers" who go around and giving frivolous and illegal parking fines, they should be retrained to track down these litter bugs and fining them.

We got an illegal parking fine in a shopping lot. There was a 4 hour free parking policy, we were there 1.45 hrs and still got fined for 590 kr and we have no legal recourse without incurring legal fees totalling more than the fine. What a racket ... beware of Euro Park lots ... avoid them, because they are crooks, use attendants that falsify documents and cheat!

Anyway back to the point. There is no one investigating litter and it could so easily be tracked and stopped.

Just another ugly truth about this "perfect environment".

Excess Products

Without naming companies (do not wished to be sued for slander), one top name clothier actually shreds clothes which are more than 3 seasons old instead of reducing the price or selling them to a wholesaler who could liquidate them. Last year the company shredded over 3 million kroner in clothes, shoes, jackets and than later that year had to lay off much of his staff due to cash flow! Duh, they just threw away.

P.S. Just recently found out that the company has closed several of their warehouses, due to financial woes. Wonder how much income could have come from all those shirts, jackets, shoes and accessories that were destroyed? How eco friendly is that?

Another company that specializes in home and garden, will actually throw away products that have slight damage (box broken or damaged, scratches, blemishes, etc.)but are in perfect working order. Worked for them for a few months and everyday was throwing away perfectly good products instead of discounting them and selling to people who do not mind getting a discount on an item that has only cosmetic damage.

This practice seems to go on all over Denmark. Do not know if it some law or that these companies just want to protect their image, but it is such a waste.

"Let's Talk Rubbish!"

If you would like to learn some simple, but effective ways to reduce your own impact on this planet without the political ramblings and doomsday predictions, pick up a copy of "Let's Talk Rubbish!", which has hundreds of tips and ideas on things you and your family can do to make some simple eco changes in your lives.

Includes tips for at home, at school, at work, green shopping, gardening, home made cleaning products and much more. All for the low price of only $2.95. It will be delivered as an ebook. Even includes a fun environmentally friendly magic trick you can play with your children.

Email address:

Lastest Trash News!

Even though local kommunes have had to increase their budgets to fight this problem and clean it up, the Danes seem to be ignoring the problem and making more and more of an unsitely mess.

These problems are so evident if you walk along the beach in the early evening when people are leaving to go home. The beaches are just littered with all sorts of rubbish. WHY? I do not know. It is so simple to just take your trash home with you and deposit it in a trash container or recycle it.

Another major problem is with the many outdoor events, concerts, plays, sporting events, etc. where people people leave everything from oridinary trash to discarded tents, sleeping bags, coolers, clothes, etc..

In these times of financial problems for everyone, including the government run agencies, it would seem illogical to create more problems and financial strains. It will all have to be paid for by the citizens. For a country that is touted to be so "GREEN", the truth is nothing short of shocking! And the sad part is, that if you ask someone to pick up their trash, they will either yell at you, hit you and insult you by throwing even more trash down! And I have seen it all happen many a time, since I am not one to stand by and watch others litter. Seldom do I get a positive reaction to politely asking people to pick up their trash.

Maybe being "green" in Denmark is more talk than action? Your views are welcome, but this is definetely a problem that needs to be dealt with.

Recycling Centers

Every thing can be burned is burned.

Last year many of the recycling centers had containers where people could put used items that other people might want. Old couches, chairs, books, video tapes, dolls, clothes, etc..

People would turn in some of their unwanted stuff, maybe find something they could use and take it home. It was a nice little service and many people availed them of this service.

Well suddenly they decided they wanted to either make money off it or wanted to protect themselves from people maybe taking something and suffering harm from it and getting sued? Whatever the reason, you can no longer do it at 90% of the recycling centers. A few have refused to follow suit.

So now these containers are filled with lots of items, but nothing is being taken away. For the places that have sold the contents to an organization so they can resell it are letting the stuff pile up, because they can not sell it.

So what will happen. It will be hauled away and burned. More material will be used to create new things instead of letting the people who could benefit from it take it home.

Another stupid policy where the environment is placed on the back burner! Some forward thinking country! So do not believe that Denmark is such a great environmental friendly country.

Only when it benefits the coffers of the government is it so.

So many more things could be done and the implementation would be much easier than most the evironmental crap they promote.

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