Comments: One of the most impactful visual messages I've ever seen
Unfortunately, recycling in the UK is so confusing and disorganized as to be practically useless. Each council has its own rules on what can be recycled where, and residents are generally too confused and/or apathetic and/or ignorant to comply. Which frequently renders that which is correctly recycled, uneconomic to recycle.
Posted by Tim W on 22 May, 2021 at 5:28 PM
Indeed Tim, which is why I actually quite enjoy Northern Living: only plastic bottles, metal cans, paper and cardboard are recycled. Anyone can understand that, and it feels (now I understand what happens to the 'rubbish') rather more genuine.
Although as our bins are at the end of our (long) track, and glass isn't track-end recycled, it's all rather an effort. And if *I* (as a lifelong fanatical recycler - I was collecting newspapers every month from local streets from the age of 7 to raise funds for the Guides and Scouts) feel that way, then there is absolutely no hope for proper division of rubbish.
Posted by Blue Witch on 22 May, 2021 at 7:01 PM
You are right, it needs more robust legislation, education from an early age and very stiff penalties for companies and corporations. Fining councils see the costs passed on to residents.
I have been banging this drum for many years, that the environment is the issue, not 'climate change'. Even my modelling gives me pause for thought as card, wood and other recyclable materials would be better than the plastics used.
Posted by delcatto on 23 May, 2021 at 6:39 AM
I have the same qualms over many products I use delcatto, including acrylic paint, man-made fibres and fabric, plastic garden products etc etc.
But, the consumer can ony buy what the retailer sells, and most retailers can only sell what manufacturers make (larger retailers, with large volume sales, can get things manufactured to their specs, but smaller ones can't).
It's like the peat in garden compost dilemma I was mentioning a few weeks ago. If manufacturers only make very limited amounts of compost without peat, then retailers can only sell what is made available.
The peat problem has been known about for decades. Manufacturers have had years to invent and trial good non-peat products, but now the government are banning peat use (and the Irish government have stopped extraction), they are throwing up their hands in mock-horror and saying it's not possible to replace the peat in products that quickly.
Posted by Blue Witch on 23 May, 2021 at 10:22 AM
My beef is with bubble wrap, jiffy bags and polystyrene chips. Yes, they can all be re-used, but not by me as I rarely send anything to others.
Posted by allotmentqueen on 25 May, 2021 at 7:56 PM
Unfortunately, recycling in the UK is so confusing and disorganized as to be practically useless. Each council has its own rules on what can be recycled where, and residents are generally too confused and/or apathetic and/or ignorant to comply. Which frequently renders that which is correctly recycled, uneconomic to recycle.
Posted by Tim W on 22 May, 2021 at 5:28 PMIndeed Tim, which is why I actually quite enjoy Northern Living: only plastic bottles, metal cans, paper and cardboard are recycled. Anyone can understand that, and it feels (now I understand what happens to the 'rubbish') rather more genuine.
Although as our bins are at the end of our (long) track, and glass isn't track-end recycled, it's all rather an effort. And if *I* (as a lifelong fanatical recycler - I was collecting newspapers every month from local streets from the age of 7 to raise funds for the Guides and Scouts) feel that way, then there is absolutely no hope for proper division of rubbish.
Posted by Blue Witch on 22 May, 2021 at 7:01 PMYou are right, it needs more robust legislation, education from an early age and very stiff penalties for companies and corporations. Fining councils see the costs passed on to residents.
Posted by delcatto on 23 May, 2021 at 6:39 AMI have been banging this drum for many years, that the environment is the issue, not 'climate change'. Even my modelling gives me pause for thought as card, wood and other recyclable materials would be better than the plastics used.
I have the same qualms over many products I use delcatto, including acrylic paint, man-made fibres and fabric, plastic garden products etc etc.
But, the consumer can ony buy what the retailer sells, and most retailers can only sell what manufacturers make (larger retailers, with large volume sales, can get things manufactured to their specs, but smaller ones can't).
It's like the peat in garden compost dilemma I was mentioning a few weeks ago. If manufacturers only make very limited amounts of compost without peat, then retailers can only sell what is made available.
The peat problem has been known about for decades. Manufacturers have had years to invent and trial good non-peat products, but now the government are banning peat use (and the Irish government have stopped extraction), they are throwing up their hands in mock-horror and saying it's not possible to replace the peat in products that quickly.
Posted by Blue Witch on 23 May, 2021 at 10:22 AMMy beef is with bubble wrap, jiffy bags and polystyrene chips. Yes, they can all be re-used, but not by me as I rarely send anything to others.
Posted by allotmentqueen on 25 May, 2021 at 7:56 PM