Our waste disposal system is rubbish (Waste disposal)

Member Name: azana

Product:	Waste disposal
Date:	09/02/09 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: No clear policy

I find the actual matter of disposing of waste a complete mish-mash in my area. Whilst I can put out plastics and paper for recycling, glass has to be taken a fair (in reality driving) distance and I have to purchase bags if I wish vegetation to be recycled. Landfill is a huge problem in this country and so I do feel we should all be doing our best to reduce, in reality it is very very hard to do so.

I collect plastics etc with no real idea if they actually will be recycled or whether they will languish unbought somewhere as the global price has diminished.

Here is what I would like to see happen to improve the situation in my area and nationwide:

1) Bring back reusable glass bottles with a deposit - it works for coca cola etc in Norway (you take your bottle back to supermarkets and get a coin payout from a machine) so why not here?

2) Manufacturers/supermarkets - stop over packaging everything! There is some move to this but too often products are more packaging than product - toys especially, it is wrong.

3) Reduce use of cards - they are a waste, I want to not send Christmas cards, often they are to people I see every day so pointless, but at present it isn't very socially acceptable if it were more so it would be a good thing. Easter eggs are a huge packaging nightmare to - so cut straight to the chocolate!
Party bags - ban 'em they go straight in the bin! I am no scrooge so replace them with a nice (recyclable) book or anything that isn't a bouncy ball, my children must have had about a hundred of these, all landfill.

4) Freecycle - everyone should do it!

5) Government think it through.... I am worried that low voltage bulbs are being introduced without any thought really of where they will be disposed - I know they are full of mercury but I don't know where on earth I am supposed to take them - it worries me.

7) food - plan better - most people throw away 1/3 of the food they buy, this has to improve and is my individual responsibilty, everyone should make sure they don't waste needlessly.

There are plenty more things that could happen but these are the ones that would make a change to me straight away. I think the town in Japan where there is no waste collection at all is an interesting concept, meanwhile I find the amount I throw away is quite scary - I am determined to improve this and believe everyone should think about what they throw away.

Some of the issues are our individual responsibility but overall in this country I believe there needs to be much more clarity from government and manufacturers as to what we propose to do with all our waste. If nothing improves this country will become one big landfill site. We have to improve.

Summary: I don't think we have thought waste through in this country