We frequent an Adults-only site in Cornwall. The owner has a sign which says NOT to recycle food trays or yogurt pots. When asked why, he replied that many campers do not rinse out these items, putting them in the receptacles dirty, and the collectors then refuse to take them.
How disgustingly lazy can some people be?
And these are almost all, older, mature campers at an Adults-only site, so the younger families with kids can't be blamed for this one!
Come on you dirty people - do your bit for the environment.
Bertie.
Problems of the first world innit? I would say its younger folks who are the recyclers. Older folks are more used to chucking things in one bin. Having said that I always recycle because I like order/efficiency/economy in all things but I have to accept not everybody has such clarity of thought, so live & let live, eh?
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 09/1/2015
We always rinse but do wonder sometimes if we are using more energy getting them clean than any value in recycling them!!!
David
We did think about that, David but now, after washing up, we use that water to rinse out these items for recycling. Any final rinse then only uses a minimal amount of fresh water.
Another thought that has occurred to me is doubt as to whether the government/authorities have got to grips with the situation. Surely, everything should be standard across the UK and, for anyone changing address, the only likely difference being the day for recycling.
Bertie.
I suppose its worth pointing out that recycling of household waste is more about waste management. Increasingly now refuse is being incinerated rather than landfilled. As pointed out, more energy is probably expended washing out gooey food containers than is saved by selling the recycled plastic which has little resale value. The problem with recycling is that you usually end up with too much.
I think the crux of the matter is that, for far too long, it has been the habit to use landfill and the oceans as a means of disposing of our general waste. The natural ecology of the planet is now beginning to show results of this abuse, and world governments have varying attitudes towards a solution - from not being interested to taking some action, although there still seems to be little evidence of a robust plan of action that will bring about a lasting improvement in either the short or the long term.
I think the plan is to reduce the present carbon footprint by around 60%.I don't know how long it will take to achieve that (or even if it can be done), but the projected expansion of the human race will, in 50 years time, have negated that target because of the extra people in the world. Thus, the target may well reach 80% or above, even before the 60% aim is reached.
Looks like a battle that can't be won!
Bertie.
So having to wash/rinse out all these containers/bottles with water that has to be paid for by the tennent/householder when going through a water meter??
Thats right, its water you pay for to wash them out. Then the plastic waste has to be baled by a large machine using electricity. It is then sold for about £100/tonne average & transported away possibly 100s of miles by 44tonne truck. So call it waste management but not necessarily evironmentally friendly recycling.
The process is probably cost effective but debatable whether it is better for the environment than incineration.
Recycling is so ad-hoc and disorganised up and down the land, that ive 90% give up. I take the glass bottles to the bank and thats it. Everything else goes in the bin. Apart from sensitive paperwork, which i burn.
Quote: Originally posted by Vectratot on 09/1/2015
So having to wash/rinse out all these containers/bottles with water that has to be paid for by the tennent/householder when going through a water meter??
Oh, come on, you don't need to use gallons of water for the purpose and, as I said earlier, we use the washing up water before pouring it away.
I'll agree that many councils are so Jobsworth that they make recycling more of a pain than necessary, but our own UDC are very good at recycling, yet a significant number of households near to us are obviously too lazy to bother with doing it properly.
Citizens of some EU countries regard the UK population as a dirty race and, sadly, we seem to be proving them right.
I'm not ashamed to say that we follow the "Keep Britain Tidy" code, even though our own contributions are pitifully insignificant.
Bertie.
No-one is condoning or advocating throwing litter in the street. But until recycling is working 'as one' in the whole of the UK, it is pointless. Once its in the bin, its down to the council to take care of it as they will.
Recycling in general, should be tackled at source. Firstly, it should be illegal to offer ANYTHING for sale that doesnt come from the manufacturers in recyclable packaging. Secondly, excess packaging should also be illegal. Stop non-recyclable packaging, and cut right down on what you can at source.
Having to decide what plastic etc can and cannot be recycled...having to wash stuff out (it gets recycled just as it comes, does it??), then take your bins to the street, we are basically doing the councils job for them.
I recycle everything at home, our council is very good at recycling and the money raised goes towards keeping our council tax down.
However, on campsites I find it lot harder to recycle, as it requires separate bags for things and, apart from not having the space in my very small unit, I do find it harder to wash things out. Yes I use the washing up water for a lot of things, but it varies so much what can actually be recycled between campsites/councils I have to admit I've given up sometimes.
I agree with Mick S regarding "getting recycling working as one in the UK" - a view I mentioned earlier in the topic.
By placing our bins or plastic bags in a suitable position for collection from the edge of our property is not really doing the councils' job for them.
And for the contents having to be in a clean state is not unreasonable - some manual handling in sorting must obviously be necessary, and any residue of stale, possibly rotting food is hardly something that the operatives should be expected to handle - particularly in bulk.
Bertie.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Recycling on caravan parks.
