excess packaging

*zippy*

I work in a clothing dept, the amount of packaging used on deliveries makes me feel sick every time I unpack it and it is getting worse not better. Every single item is wrapped in plastic bags individually and then again in bundles, even socks and earrings and things like underwear already in plastic packs

We have bags and bags of plastic waste everyday, at my store most of it is recycled, but when you multiply how many stores are producing this amount everyday. :eek:

Softstuff

dutchie wrote:

And why shouldnt rubbish collection be charged on weight? If I reuse, recycle and compost most of my rubbish, why should I pay as much for this as someone who doesnt?

Perhaps if they were offering a reduction for the people who recycle everything, I would believe the government were promoting recycling rather than trying to bring in yet another stealth tax.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of people being charged more for more waste, but to be credible it does need a reduction for those who are more careful.

JennyB

dutchie - you kind of illustrated my point: your neighbours started recycling when they had recycling collections - i.e. "decent services". taking your recycling to a recycling site is a messy, horrible job that most aren't enthusiastic enough to do. and so my point was provide better services to all and more will recycle = encouragement not blackmail.

dutchie wrote:

And why shouldnt rubbish collection be charged on weight? If I reuse, recycle and compost most of my rubbish, why should I pay as much for this as someone who doesnt?

See comments above about fly-tipping and sneaky rubbish dumping behaviour

dutchie

JennyB wrote:

dutchie - you kind of illustrated my point: your neighbours started recycling when they had recycling collections - i.e. "decent services". taking your recycling to a recycling site is a messy, horrible job that most aren't enthusiastic enough to do. and so my point was provide better services to all and more will recycle = encouragement not blackmail.

See comments above about fly-tipping and sneaky rubbish dumping behaviour

It's all to easy to say it's someone elses fault why you dont do xyz.

It's not a messy horrible job IMO. And if people want services to make it easier to recyle, it costs money, and it will drive our council taxes up even more. And those are stealth taxes too, because I end up paying because my neighbours need little green boxes outside their house.

I mean, drastic action needs taking. Both personal action, and by businesses and organisations. At the moment Britain is at the bottom of the EU league table on the amount of waste recycled, with only Greece & Portugal worse. Only 18% of municipal waste is recycled in Britain, compared with 65% in the Netherlands.

It's all about changing attitudes. We get more fly tipping in the UK than in most other European countries, and more rubbish on the streets, etc.

Sure providing services can help change those attitudes, but someone has to pay for them.