A staggering 140 tonnes of extra rubbish has been recycled in Basildon since weekly collections were introduced just a month ago.Well, fancy that!
Malcolm Buckley, councillor responsible for the environment, welcomed the figures, saying he wants Basildon to be one of the most environmentally friendly boroughs in the country.
He said: “We are committed to helping residents recycle as much as possible, and now householders can recycle more than ever before...”Here’s a salutary lesson for councils. I used to have a printer before I got my Dell system. Can’t remember if it was Canon or HP or some other make, but the point was, although the used ink cartridges were recyclable, I had to find a place to take them or post them back at my own cost.
Consequently, they just went in the bin.
But when I got a Dell printer, each cartridge I ordered came with a SAE to post the old one back! So now, I recycle all my old cartridges.
OK, I accept that the cost of this is theoretically included in the (eye-watering) cost of the new cartridge, but even so, since it now costs me no effort, I’m still more inclined to do it than not.
But when I got a Dell printer, each cartridge I ordered came with a SAE to post the old one back! So now, I recycle all my old cartridges.
OK, I accept that the cost of this is theoretically included in the (eye-watering) cost of the new cartridge, but even so, since it now costs me no effort, I’m still more inclined to do it than not.
On the other hand, make it more difficult, force me to put colour cartridges in one envelope and black in another, with a fine if I get it wrong, and they'll start to go in the bin again.
It's not rocket science.
I'd like to put all the councils in the bin.... weekly or fortnightly, I don't care which.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, your point is well made. I was smoking on the street yesterday (I know, shock horror!) and rather than drop the butt in the road or risk a fine I looked for the nearest bin. Found one, 200 metres away. Next time I might not be so inclined to remember my civic or environment responsibilities.
Whilst acknowledging that making it easier for people to "act responsibly" is important I do have to also point out that my local authority (which otherwise falls down in so many ways) did go to the lengths of installing combined bins and cig butt receptacles at refugar intervals around our little burgh, and even made a point of siting many within metres of the various takeaway outlets - I would say there is a bin about every 30 metres. Nevertheless users of the takeaway outlets still airily discard their wrappings onto the pavements and we still experience the "pull up in the car, go grab a burger, eat it in the car at the curb [in-car hifi at full blast whilst doing so, naturally, yeah, screw the residents, even if it is approaching midnight] and don't forget to open window and drop burger carton and empty drinks container onto the road as we pull away ..." Having lots of well sited, easily accessible bins doesn't eradicate the 'I am an arrogant loathsome sh*t' behaviour .. unfortunately ... the bins just get used by the people who would have been prepared to walk whatever the distance required to the next bin any way .. the loathsome sh*ts just carry on being loathsome
ReplyDeleteWe're a recycling point at work for cartridges and it's as you say - keep it easy and without duress and all is well.
ReplyDeleteYep, another vote for ease here. As I've said a few times now, I was a recycling refusenik where we used to live in the UK because it had been made so bloody complicated with what things went in what containers and what we had to do in the way of sorting and preparation, and of course this was all brought in at the cost of our weekly collection becoming fortnightly. In Mellie we recycle not because we've suddenly become eco-worriers (not a typo) but because it's easy - all paper, cardboard, tins and literally everything that is produced with that little triangular recycle logo on can go in the same bin, everything else goes in the regular rubbish bin, and both are emptied the same day. Yes, even if the lids don't shut or they're not in the same place they were last week. Make it easy and it will happen, make it like doing a Rubik cube in the dark after a pint of WKD and people won't bother.
ReplyDeletePrinter ink is, drop for drop, among the most costly substances on the planet. A gallon of it costs (I'm not going to say 'is worth') tens of thousands. I don't normally think cartels can hold up, but there's something fishy going on there.
ReplyDeleteDave Gillies,
ReplyDeleteThere's an outfit called Jet Tec that in addition to their clone cartridges sell refill kits. It cost a few pennies to refill unless you own an Epson in which case to need a resetting widget to reset the chip.
I hardly ever print anything now but I like to spread the word and screw the bastards.
I'd like to think that this initiative heralded the beginning of an era of enlightenment in local government .. but a lifetime's experience makes me doubt it ..
ReplyDeleteMore likely is a reversion to the tried & trusted "Stasi" model of imposing their collective will ..
And that this sudden outbreak of common sense will be quickly stamped on, before it gets out of hand ..
whilst our govt are bombing the bejasus out of foreign countries (without real cause) I for one will not be recycling any thing at all!!!
ReplyDeleteUnless of course I get my hands on a politician and then I may well make an attempt at putting the seperated parts into various bins...
Re: Ian's earlier post ..
ReplyDeleteThere's also Cartridge World .. http://cartridgeworld.co.uk/
I've been using my local branch for a couple of years now .. and they're excellent ..
I'm with AE on this one. Our european neighbours have it easy. If it bears the Mark Of Gain then it goes into the green or yellow bin. BASTA.
ReplyDeleteNot like here where the only things that may go into the 'Green Bin' on pain of death are things the Council can sell on. I would say 'sell on at a profit' but this is the North Norfolk District Ratbag we're talking about and the idea of 'making a profit' is alien.
So I can put shampoo bottles in the Green Bin but NOT marg tubs. Yet the Marg Tub has the same recycling icon on it.
"Next time I might not be so inclined to remember my civic or environment responsibilities."
ReplyDeleteCarrot ALWAYS works better than stick...
"Nevertheless users of the takeaway outlets still airily discard their wrappings onto the pavements..."
Those people deserve fines.
Did I say fines? I meant a bullet in the head.
"Printer ink is, drop for drop, among the most costly substances on the planet."
Yup, I think it may contain liquid gold. Or branded mineral water!
"There's an outfit called Jet Tec that in addition to their clone cartridges sell refill kits."
I've tried those - they're good, but you need damned good manual dexterity and a lot of kitchen roll!
"So I can put shampoo bottles in the Green Bin but NOT marg tubs. Yet the Marg Tub has the same recycling icon on it."
ReplyDeleteThat's utter madness! Bury them in the middle of the bag anyway - I bet they don't check before collection!