( Reader 's Digest ) -- What causes the greatest amount of `` green guilt '' across the globe ? Not recycling enough was the number one response in 9 out of 15 countries surveyed , followed by wasting water . A new global `` Around the World '' poll , conducted by Reader 's Digest and published in all of its 50 April editions worldwide , found that Brazil was the country where the largest number ( 42 percent ) polled said they feel guilty about not recycling enough , followed by Malaysia and Russia ( both 40 percent ) , China and the Netherlands ( both 35 percent ) , and France ( 31 percent ) . The United States and the Philippines ( both 30 percent ) ranked below them . The most guilt in the survey was felt by the water-worried Spaniards . Cosme Ojeda , editor of Reader 's Digest Spain , says , `` In our arid country , we are all aware of the lack of water every day . '' India ( 39 percent ) and Italy ( 30 percent ) ranked behind them , but it was also their biggest concern . Cristian Arratia , 28 , of Blue Mountains , Australia , told the magazine , `` I do stupid things like running the tap while I brush my teeth . '' The United States , which has the highest number of motor vehicles per capita of any nation on earth ( 844 per 1,000 people ) , also felt guilty about driving too much , according to 30 percent of Americans polled . Fran Musetti , 58 , of Clovis , California , said , `` Our society has become too rushed , and that 's why we drive everywhere . ''
Not recycling enough was the number one concern in 9 out of 15 countries surveyed . Brazil ( 42 percent ) had the highest number of people feeling guilty about recycling . 40 percent of people in the U.S. feel guilty about recycling .