Households have been urged to recycle with more care as countries dealing with our rubbish get tough on waste.
Why are other countries 'dealing with our rubbish' in the first place?
Much of Barking and Dagenham’s recycling gets shipped outside the UK where it is transformed into other stuff.
Heh! That's quality journalism, that! 'Other stuff'...
A recent poll by the Local Government Association (LGA) revealed that at least 20 per cent of councils were under pressure as a result of new restrictions from countries including China on certain plastics and paper.
Some councils who have been most affected warn their recycling costs have increased by £500,000 on average over the last year as a result of the restrictions.
So just pass them on to the ratepayer, like you do with every
other cost...
Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s environment spokesman, said: “It’s clear that the ban by China on imported waste, which could soon be introduced by other countries, could have a marked impact on councils’ ability to recycle.
“It’s essential that the government provides support to help councils offset the loss of income they face as a result of the ban and encourage manufacturers to use more recyclable materials.”
When you say 'government', you do realise they don't have any money?
The French have been using rubber products, such as old tyres, in the construction of their roads for over 50 years. India is using waste plastic in the construction of their roads. China is doing something similar. In Britain, on minor roads, you see three or four blokes, usually Polish or eastern European, with a flatbed of tarmac, a couple of shovels and a vibrating plate to pack the tarmac down. On trunk roads, it's still tarmac, a road roller, but the same blokes with shovels. Why, in the 21st century, are we still using 20th century working practices. I have contacted the local road research laboratory several times about using waste plastic, but have yet to receive a reply.
ReplyDeletePenseivat
Landfill taxes are another one of those "one size fits all" rules from the EUSSR. Initially brought in because parts of the continent don't have holes to fill, the low countries for example. Maybe we could go back to shoving the stuff in holes when we leave the Fifth Reich. And why are we not recycling the stuff ourselves instead of shipping it half way round the world to be thrown into the sea? Is rubbish the only thing we can send to China in all those empty ships?
ReplyDelete"Why, in the 21st century, are we still using 20th century working practices."
ReplyDeleteI suspect the issue is 'cost'.
"Landfill taxes are another one of those "one size fits all" rules from the EUSSR. Initially brought in because parts of the continent don't have holes to fill, the low countries for example. "
Once, I would have said 'We won't need to worry about that in April'. I'm, not so sure I can say that now, with May steering the Brexit ship...