Forum Topic

Cling Film, plastic bags etc

If people persist in putting the above items into their plastics box and the recycling chaps take it away, why doesn't that contaminate the entire lorry load?   Also seen filthy unwashed jars and plastic containers - it that acceptable?   Food in the wrong type of plastic bag has also been taken as well.  Why are most of us carefully rinsing and sorting our recycling if the men will in fact take everything regardless?   Delighted it's taken and not left on the street but...

Jennifer Selig ● 2585d22 Comments

It's now called VED or Vehicle Excise Duty and no longer goes into the Road Fund that once existed.  It just goes into central government finances. It is now based on emissions so you pay less or nothing at all if you have an electric car.https://www.goultralow.com/electric-car-savings/car-tax-calculator/They need to come up with some ways to reduce the air pollution.  It's not good for us or the planet. 

Philippa Bond ● 2546d

Why we should take the EU to court over pollution levels when we cannot meet the existing ones is crazy. As for allowing odd number cars on one day and evens another the answer is easy buy a second car with a number opposite to your main car. Remember these cities do not have congestion charges or road tax

Nicholas Beard ● 2547d

Some cities including some near neighbours in Europe have alternate day driving restrictions.The UK government lobbied the EU wanting them to reduce the levels of pollution considered dangerous.  The UK government was also taken to court over their lack of action on air pollution and lost.  The result - they kicked the problem down the line and gave it to the cash strapped Local Authorities to deal with.

Philippa Bond ● 2547d

Post Brexit we will no longer be obliged to recycle. I understand we may change our regulations as regards electrical goods disposal. Also I understand for air quality we could adopt Indian regulations. There will not be many benefits but this may be one so I understand.

Nicholas Beard ● 2551d

The post above was the long-awaited Government new waste strategy being commented on.If you aren't sure about some of your packaging from major brands then why not contact them?  We need to make sure that they realise that what their packaging is made of is an issue of importance to us!

Philippa Bond ● 2565d

Hidden in the Christmas/Brexit negotiations:https://wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk/opinion/plastic-food-waste/waste-strategy-failed-christmas-present

Philippa Bond ● 2566d

Quite correct. Yogurt pots and stiff lids good, soft film covers bad.

Guy Lambert ● 2566d

As far as I can tell from the LBH online info yoghurt pots are included:https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20128/household_recycling_and_waste_collections/1597/plastic_recycling_in_your_red_box(copy and paste into your browser)Some of these have a film lid as well as there plastic lid and film lids won't be included as you will see from the list with the X.I don't think that the Recycle for London list is any different:http://www.brentfordtw8.com/default.asp?section=info&page=recycling003.htmThey don't want flippy flappy plastic eg carrier bags, pouches, crisp packets, or those polystyrene fast food boxes or cups.

Philippa Bond ● 2567d

Can you recycle the large, for use in frig door,  Yeo and M&S Yoghurt pots and their lids?

Jennifer Selig ● 2569d

Fortunately, most people do bother.It's really not that hard. In some other countries they ask you to sort plastics into 9 different types! Once you know a food tray is Ok and the film on top isn't, you never have to puzzle over that again.

Guy Lambert ● 2572d

Learn the difference between those that you can recycle in your recycling collection and those you can't.Yes, but where to see this?    A simple sheet of code numbers with "RECYCLE" or "NOT RECYCLEABLE put in black bag" by each code number might help.  However, who has time to scrutinise the bottom of each piece of plastic looking for a code, often requiring a magnifying glass to read.In order to increase recycling, it must be made simple and easy, otherwise people will not bother.

Jennifer Selig ● 2572d

See article on the front page:http://www.brentfordtw8.com/default.asp?section=info&page=recycling003.htmLearn the difference between those that you can recycle in your recycling collection and those you can't.

Philippa Bond ● 2573d

YUK!  Leave food inside recycling!  URGH!  What on earth... Some people are just slobs.  You only need to see photos of pristine new kitchens in flats and then see what tenants do to them and the utter chaos these people live in - pigs in muck, springs to mind.  I suppose if unfortunately you're an alcoholic or a drug addict the last thing on your mind is keeping your surroundings clean and tidy!

Jennifer Selig ● 2579d

Guy.  YUK!  Leave food inside recycling!  URGH!  What on earth...

Sarah Felstead ● 2582d

Contamination is a matter of degree. Yes, we do want pizza boxes, which are inevitably contaminated to some degree. No, we don't want them with half a pizza inside (not uncommon)

Guy Lambert ● 2582d

The info is issued in pamphlets with the new collection.  There are residents who take no notice. It is on the website, it is in the Council magazine, it is on the banners in the street. There are residents who take no notice. The majority (not everyone) has access to a computer and a smartphone. There are residents who take no notice. Then when residents are issued with notes on their recycling that they are putting in things that the Council doesn't want or the recycling isn't taken - there are a minority of residents who are incensed and start throwing their toys out of the pram. Recognise the scenario?  Then there are those who consistently complain about the Council magazines but they are a constant reminder that the Council has other duties which I don't believe many could name on one hand - and a good way to communicate with those without computers and smartphones.With a transient population the info needs to be reissued/reinforced every so often AND definitely when new tenants move in.  This morning I've noticed it is the tenants in our street who have their bins out when we are still on the Christmas & New Year changed timetable. Whereas I could (and do) occasionally do a print out (if it is possible from the Council's info - more difficult with online info full of links) for someone new moving in, it's impossible with constantly changing tenancies.  (It is good to avoid any hassle and irritation with new neighbours!) Landlords when using Letting Agents should make sure that they are getting them to check that there are the requisite bins and info and PROVIDING them - and not just giving foreigners or students vague (and possibly incorrect) info on how to get them.

Philippa Bond ● 2582d

It makes so much sense to wash before it dries and or hardens.  As Philippa says come the warmer months the containers must be disgusting and I always feel for the people doing the collection.  I keep hearing of  differences in guidance the councils give out.  One of the most recent was a council saying they didn’t want contaminated pizza boxes ..I don’t know of our does.

Sarah Felstead ● 2583d

Agree absolutely - it should be made a compulsory order to ALL letting agents to make sure this info is pinned up in the kitchen on frig or somewhere plainly visible and that ALL boxes and bins are provided too.  Many a tenant has arrived where I live not having a clue - and of course, some have a very poor understanding of English which doesn't help.I've never seen any notice from the recycling team left here so that procedure could also be enforced.

Jennifer Selig ● 2584d

The info needs to be very clear and easily downloadable or available from the Council.Landlords need to give their tenants the info every time tenancies change - or make sure it is stuck up on the wall/fridge door - and make sure that there is space and containers provided.There should be info available to be given to those households who obviously don't understand the system rather than the collectors turning a blind eye and allowing the quality of the collection to deteriorate just because it is the easy option.

Philippa Bond ● 2585d

If you read this article by Karen Liebreich with video interludes by me you will see what happens to plastic film and other undesirables collected with the recycling.A certain amount can be caught in this way but we have to restrict it because if it gets through it really does gum up the works - anybody who has used clingfilm imprecisely will get the picture. https://thechiswickcalendar.co.uk/what-happens-to-our-recycled-rubbish/?mc_cid=cae2ce1e50&mc_eid=db2b636ef5As to rinsing/cleaning: the cleaner the better, mainly because good clean recyclate is attractive to good recyclers and we get better results ecologically and better prices to mitigate the costs of the service. There's a world of difference though between a bit of baked-on sauce on a plastic cook-in tub and a cat food can half full of Whiskas.

Guy Lambert ● 2585d

Remember that there are people who have to sort this whether at kerbside or at the facility.  In the summer there will be an even bigger problem if not rinsed.  There should be stickers at least showing people where they are going wrong in their sorting - if the recycling is actually taken.It must cost at least three times as much if what is supposed to be in the recycling box is sent to be incinerated.  That is money lost from other vital Council services.  There is an A-Z of services here - Recycling and Waste may be the best known but is just one amongst many Council services - see how many you can name before you look:https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/a_to_zIt is very disappointing when people who should and could know better plead ignorance and abuse the system making life harder for those who do need help.

Philippa Bond ● 2585d

A friend who has contacts in Germany once said that the 'German way' is to not rinse things presumably as this is using more water and everything gets blasted at the plants in any case. I think this can be taken a little too far but must admit that since hearing this I have a tendency to give but a cursory rinse.

Anne England ● 2585d