Series: EU vs US: The recycling edition

Here it seems almost unfair to do a comparison, especially in light of the fact that regional differences are very stark.

But here is my attempt...

In the US (in the part where I lived) I would have to put the recycling (with carefully separated (1) paper in a paper bag) into my own personal bin and once a week I would put it out. The trash went out also in a trash can. Our trash can (a standard size) was much bigger (and for us, often empty) The recycling truck would pick it up (strangely dump everything that had been separated into one big thing (0)) and drive off leaving us with an empty bin. (1) we had little trash but a lot of recycling but if it didn't fit in the bin they wouldn't take it. (0) Lots of packaging though is NOT recyclable. Tetrapacks, for example, although marked with the symbol are only recycled in some places, and it's your job to know where. (0)

can be full of completely random as long as it has that symbol
(and your district collects it)

 US 2/5 (40%)

In the EU (where I live) there are huge bins on the street which means anyone can throw their recycling anytime, and into the properly marked container. That means you never have to have recycling lying around your house (1) and trash gets taken once a month, twice a month or once a week, depending on how much you pay and how much trash you have. if you want to have trash collection less often (to save money), they check on your bin for a few weeks before "letting" you have collection less often. (1) The plastic packaging bin takes every kind of plastic packaging. from shrink wrap to styrofoam. (1) I don't know what they do with it though, maybe burn it. (0) Two containers for glass - one white and one colored each recycled very efficiently. (2) large containers for paper (1) and large containers for metal (1) the smallest container is for trash (1) That doesn't stop people from dumping the wrong things in the wrong bin (0) recycling glass in the middle of the night which is very loud (0) or just dumping trash in a heap on the street (0)

typical scene

EU: 8/11 (72%)

EU wins hands down... in this case. there are parts of the us with no/worse recyclingsystems though, and parts of the EU with better techniques too.....

And of course if the people don't participate then it all doesn't matter.

Series: EU vs US: The paper edition

Paper is such a standard, basic thing that it would seem differences would stem merely from quality and not from regional standards.
Turns out that is incorrect...

The EU has chosen A4 (8.3X11.7inches) as its standard.
and the US has chosen 8.5X11inches as its standard "letter" size.
Nearly the same! but with some major differences.

If you cut A4 in half you end up with A3 .... which has the SAME ratio. that means, I can make one draft of a poster and print it on any size paper, A2, A1, A4, A3 ... etc, without changing anything. Whereas with letter paper, that's impossible.
EU: 1, US: 0

But standard paper use doesn't stop there. How about I would like to punch some holes and put some loose sheets into a binder? US has a 3 hole punch that holds in the paper nice and solidly on little rings. The EU has a 2 hole punch that allows you to carefully put the papers into a binder with gigantic rings which then allows you to easily rip them apart by accident, and then, when you are angry enough, on purpose. They are governed by an international standard, and are 80 millimetres (3.1 in) ... enough to leave 4.5inches of flopping un-tethered paper on either side of the whole.
EU:1, US: 1

I wouldn't be the first to beg the US to adopt a bit of metric system or ISO standards... but given the poor choise of hole punching standard, I say the outcome of this match overall, is a solid tie.

Series: Euro vs. US: The Bedder Bed Edition

So people keep asking me: Which do you like better? Europe or the US?

Hmm. That's not a fair question, since there are many factors to consider. Herewith I begin a series where I compare and contrast simple things. If I keep it up, maybe I'll score it.

First up, a pun: What's BEDDER?

When it comes to beds, Europe invented IKEA, so point 1 for Europe.

However, it also invented pushing two twin sized mattresses together and calling it a double bed. Ta Da.

I don't think Queen or King are a thing here.

So when you, of couple-land, share a bed, there is a fault line down the middle. Same with the covers. It got so bad, after just one week, that I sewed two twin sized quilts together, and then sewed two duvet covers together. Europe must have a good reason though: couples like Irma and Brian, with Irma always too cold and Brian always too warm. But still. We like to share, so share we will.

Altogether, I give the US 3 points (1 each for mattress, sheets, and blankets) and EU 1 for standardizing beds that fold out of couches.