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Protecting the Environment Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult When we hear the phrase "environmental protection," it often feels like something massive, complicated, or out of reach. But in reality, it doesn’t require grand projects or drastic lifestyle changes. Even small adjustments in our daily lives can make a meaningful difference. Here are some simple yet powerful habits that anyone can adopt. These little changes, when practiced collectively, can lead to a significant impact. Changing Everyday Consumption Habits Carrying a reusable bag instead of using plastic shopping bags can eliminate over 300 plastic bags per year. Bringing a tumbler to cafés instead of using disposable cups can save around 500 paper cups annually. Before making a purchase, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" Cutting down on unnecessary shopping reduces not only personal waste but also excessive packaging that contributes to environmental pollution. Recycling Properly Instead of Just Throwin...

Summary Snack bags are nearly impossible to recycle due to their fused plastic-aluminum layers. Even if rinsed, most facilities can’t process them, with recycling rates under 10%. While rinsing may reduce contamination, it doesn’t make them truly recyclable. So, if recycling isn’t the answer, what’s the alternative? The search continues in the next post.  I was standing in my kitchen, holding an empty bag of chips, staring at the oily crumbs left inside. I hesitated. Do I need to rinse this out before throwing it away? I had heard it before—"Snack bags are hard to recycle, but if you wash them first, they have a better chance of being processed properly." It sounded logical. After all, food residue can contaminate recycling batches, right? But then I paused. Wait… does rinsing actually help? Or is it just something we do to feel better about throwing things away?  So, I decided to find out. Why Are Snack Bags So Hard to Recycle? Unlike simple plastic bottles, which can be mel...

  While scrolling through the internet, I stumbled upon an interesting photo. On the left, people were tossing all their household waste into a large metal dumpster. On the right, there was no dumpster at all—just an open area where trash was left in piles. The stark contrast made me pause. What kind of waste management system is this? That question stuck with me. It made me reflect on how recycling works in Korea, where I live, on the system in Germany, which genuinely surprised me during my visit to Munich last year, and finally, on the system in the USA, where this photo was taken. How different are these three countries when it comes to recycling? Germany – When Money Drives Recycling When I first traveled to Munich, Germany, I wasn’t thinking about waste management. I was there for football—to see Kim Min-jae play in Germany and Son Heung-min in England. But one day, while staying at a guesthouse, I went to a local supermarket for water and snacks. The moment I checked out, I ...