Recycling (copy)

I have been prompted today to think about recycling.  Coralie mentioned in her Blog yesterday, global warming and the part that we have played in that and also what we can now do; to try and redeem the situation.  One of the things is obviously recycling.

Now I have always thought that I am quite good at that.  I have 3 wheelie bins supplied by Peterborough council.  I try to make sure that I remember to put my paper, card, tins and plastics into the green one and my garden waste goes into the brown one.  I moan regularly at other members of my family when I find recyclable items in the ordinary bin.

However, a recent article in “First” a weekly news magazine for women, made me think again.  It was comparing how much rubbish was generated by different families in different countries of the world. Then looking at the overall percentage of that waste each individual country recycled.

I am ashamed to say that the United Kingdom didn’t do very well.  If I remember correctly we currently recycle only about 28%, slightly more than the USA.  Strangely, India recycles a bit more than us, but then in part that would be because they generate less waste.  New Zealand was the top scorer, but I can’t unfortunately remember the exact figures.

Anyway, the point is that the article, along with Coralie’s Blog have made me think about this issue some more. I have a vested interest now, with a grandchild on the way.  After all I want it to be able to grow up in an environmentally sound world.

I have been trying to think of ways in which I can do better.  The first thing that came to my mind was plastic carrier bags.  I know they are a real problem and despite the fact that many of them feature the recyclable logo they can’t in fact be recycled.  I currently bring home in excess of a dozen or more bags a week.  I reuse a few for rubbish but never for shopping.  I get so many that I am guilty of just throwing them out.

SO, that is going to be my first step.  I am going to reuse them for shopping.  Each time I go to the supermarket I shall take a dozen or so with me.  (That’s 12, Saskia!) *1

When they become too frail and worn out I will use them for rubbish and when they are all gone I shall invest in the “bags for life” from Tesco or Sainsbury’s.   I know it’s only a small thing but each small step helps.  

If anyone would like to give me some more ideas, then I’m listening.

I am also going to keep a couple of bags in my hand bag for other shopping although I am not sure if all shops allow you to use your own??   In fact I think I shall do a little survey.  I will report my findings in a future Blog if I find any shops that will not let me put items straight into my own bags.   I know some shops don’t like it because of the shop lifting issue.  I can’t see a problem though, if you have your receipt.  Anyway, I will give it a go and see what happens.

An interesting point came up today when I was talking to Coralie and Saskia about this……..why do shops use plastic bags anyway???  When I was a child all carrier bags were made of paper.  Why is it not possible to go back to paper carriers today?  At least they would be recyclable.  Some shops like “Lush” do use paper carriers. Is it because plastic ones are cheaper to produce??  If that’s the case then why don’t they charge for them?  If we had to pay for our bags maybe we would be more likely to reuse them.  I will do a poll, so let me know what you think.

One last thought:  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!

Footnotes:

1  Saskia had another blue team momment in Tesco's yesterday.  Her dad asked her to get half a dozen carrots.  She turned to me and said "how many is that!"   BLUE TEAM.  *2

2 For further details of the Blue Team see Saskia's Blog at:   uk.360.yahoo.com/saskia_glenn