Those Green Brits!

While I have always thought of Europeans (shhh... Brits don't admit to be European) as being more environmentally aware, I have truly been surprised by all the ways London is trying to be as green as possible. Here is a short list, and quite incomplete, as I have only been here for 3 weeks! I'll add more, for those who are interested, as I learn more.
1. The weekly waste collection is unbelievable. We have cans for regular waste. A box for metal, glass and paper, batteries, etc. A container for plastic, a container for yard waste and a separate bin for FOOD WASTE. I can only assume they are burning it for electricity or making bio-fuel. I will have to research.
2. Almost all food packaging is recyclable. Tim pointed out that the plastic containers are definitely single-use quality, but this is completely forgivable because so much stays out of the garbage. Every so often I find something that isn't recyclable... but not often. Even most of the film that you find on frozen foods once you take the tray out of the box is recyclable.
3. There is a huge amount of fairtrade items at the grocery store. In fact you can't buy anything but fairtrade bananas at the Sainsbury's down the street. I have noticed that most fairtrade items costs no more or just slightly more than their non-fairtrade counterparts. I even bought fairtrade sugar today and it cost exactly the same as regular sugar right next to it... not sure why there is a choice then??
4. There is a ginormous assortment of organic food for extremely reasonable prices. Sainsbury's is not even the grocery store that is known for having the best organic assortment... Waitrose is down the street as well as an totally organic store. In the US, I would have liked to buy exclusively organic, but costs proved prohibitive to all but the most important foods. In my short experience in the UK, I have found we are able to afford to buy nearly half organic and half regular because of prices. Usually there is a bit of a difference in cost, but not twice as much, not even 30 percent more - usually just a matter of a few pence in most cases. And with food prices cheap to begin with - I bought a bag of organic whole wheat flour today for 1.37!
5. As soon as a car is 3 years old, you are required to get an "annual exam" to make sure it is still fit for the road and emissions aren't excessive.
6. There are commercials (or "adverts") on the Disney Channel telling kids ways they can save water - including asking their parents to wash the car in the rain...
7. In every store that you buy something at you are asked if you want a bag - often people say no. Almost everyone brings their own bags to every type of store. In some stores you must pay for a bag or you may save money by bringing your own.

That's all for now! I am off to bed - the girls and I are starting a new class at the Town Hall tomorrow: "Rhyme Time" and then going to tour a day nursery for the girls to attend a couple days per week. They need friends too!