So far, my favorite thing about Germany is how seriously they take recycling. It is a HUGE deal. Everyone must sort their recycling into paper, glass, soft plastic, hard plastic, compost, metals, and regular waste. Then on a regular basis, everyone must take their own recycling to the dump and put it in the appropriate spot. Once at the dump, everyone parks and lugs out all their bags and bins and begins to sort their junk. The glass must be sorted into white, green, and brown glass. (There's a really satisfying crash as you throw it in!). Plastic is sorted into bottles and containers, plastic wrapping, and other plastic. There is a bin for batteries, wood, big junk like furniture and tv's, etc... It is SO organized. There are people there watching closely to make sure you do it correctly. The first thing Mariska said when we arrived was, "smile at them or die". Paul told me an infamous story about a couple who decided to retire in South Africa. On their last day in Germany they took their things to the dump and the husband accidentally put the wrong plastic in the wrong spot and left without realizing it. Apparently, the man who was over-viewing that day noticed he had put some mail in the paper bin. He took the man's mail and got the former address and over the course of three years the German government tracked the couple down at their new address in South Africa to charge them with a whopping fine of 29 euro. I enjoy living with a family that is also foreign because it means I don't have to laugh in private at some of the funny things about Germany. They're a bit obsessed with following rules and making a point. Other than that though, I'm really impressed with their system! When you have to sort your own recycling and actually get your hands dirty it makes you think about how much you waste. It also puts the responsibility on the consumer, rather than the government. You get pretty dirty at the dump, but I think its actually a great idea. (Aside from the fact that it would be very, very cold in a Canadian Winter).