So everyday without fail we all do it, and we all know it, we chuck that innocent can in the normal bin or a glass bottle. You might argue in defence that normally you are so good and take care turning lights off and other small differences. As we are bombarded with messages telling us that it all adds up!
BUT not everyone is doing there part. It is astonishing to examine the vast range within such a small area as Northampton. As within ENC area (2006/7) only 26.8% of household rubbish was recycled compared to DDC (2006/7) where 47% of house hold waste was recycled. So what can we put this range of 20.2% (just over a fifth) down to? Is it lack of knowledge? Lack of insentive? or laziness?
Well in my opinion we have all been educated as to where the average 201,616 tonnes residential waste per household during 2006 on average in Northampton annually, goes. The LANDFILL. We are have constant leaflets fly through our letter boxes telling us how we should dispose of our waste correctly. But they are ignored with all other junk mail through our letterbox.
So if the education of recycling is out there then there must be another reason for the variation between areas household waste. One reason for this could be the variation within incentives between areas in recycling policies, such as fines for overfilling bins, or paying per the bag of non-recycled household rubbish. however looking at the Main Collection Services Offered by WCAs in 2006/07 there is little variation between areas within the services. However there is a vast gap within the quantity of household waste which is recycled. so what can this be down to?
In my opinion this is due to peoples' view of recycling. I encountered hostility while working at Reading Festival this year as a Green Messenger. And as the title implies the job was to inform them of the recycling projects around the camp sites, such as collecting empty cans to get a new can and collecting cups in the arena to get 10p per a cup. Now that's incentive, as its soo easy when the bands finish the tents empty and its easy pickings within ten minutes 3 of us had made £8 which went great use!
Despite the appealing incentives people said that there was no point to recycling and that they don't and never will. so how can we change this brick wall?
Well one confirmed method of action is shock tactics. Confront people with what is really happening. As for many people seeing a great pile of rubbish in front of them would disgust them and might cause action. Along with this drastic method recycling should be made easier, as many view it as hassle. Saving old boxes for weeks, with little space to store them. Also many people are unaware of the simple recycling of batteries, for me they have to be taken to the recycling center on the other side of town. Its not really viable to pay a visit every time a battery is empty or even the same with a light bulb.
Action plans within councils should consider making recycling accessible e.g. battery collection within super markets. As well as greater incentives such as monetary rewards and make recycled goods at the fraction of the price of goods made from the raw materials.
Councils and individuals have made a great deal of effort to recycle within recent years as within Northampton as a whole, the recycling rate of household waste has raised from 18% in 2001/02 to 39.2 in 2006/07. So the only way now is up with a few more incentives the rate can be a lot higher.
Northamptonshire Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy
http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B63E7599-1BCC-42DF-BF9E-8BC330278515/0/NJMWMSStrategyFINAL.pdf
BUT not everyone is doing there part. It is astonishing to examine the vast range within such a small area as Northampton. As within ENC area (2006/7) only 26.8% of household rubbish was recycled compared to DDC (2006/7) where 47% of house hold waste was recycled. So what can we put this range of 20.2% (just over a fifth) down to? Is it lack of knowledge? Lack of insentive? or laziness?
Well in my opinion we have all been educated as to where the average 201,616 tonnes residential waste per household during 2006 on average in Northampton annually, goes. The LANDFILL. We are have constant leaflets fly through our letter boxes telling us how we should dispose of our waste correctly. But they are ignored with all other junk mail through our letterbox.
So if the education of recycling is out there then there must be another reason for the variation between areas household waste. One reason for this could be the variation within incentives between areas in recycling policies, such as fines for overfilling bins, or paying per the bag of non-recycled household rubbish. however looking at the Main Collection Services Offered by WCAs in 2006/07 there is little variation between areas within the services. However there is a vast gap within the quantity of household waste which is recycled. so what can this be down to?
In my opinion this is due to peoples' view of recycling. I encountered hostility while working at Reading Festival this year as a Green Messenger. And as the title implies the job was to inform them of the recycling projects around the camp sites, such as collecting empty cans to get a new can and collecting cups in the arena to get 10p per a cup. Now that's incentive, as its soo easy when the bands finish the tents empty and its easy pickings within ten minutes 3 of us had made £8 which went great use!
Despite the appealing incentives people said that there was no point to recycling and that they don't and never will. so how can we change this brick wall?
Well one confirmed method of action is shock tactics. Confront people with what is really happening. As for many people seeing a great pile of rubbish in front of them would disgust them and might cause action. Along with this drastic method recycling should be made easier, as many view it as hassle. Saving old boxes for weeks, with little space to store them. Also many people are unaware of the simple recycling of batteries, for me they have to be taken to the recycling center on the other side of town. Its not really viable to pay a visit every time a battery is empty or even the same with a light bulb.
Action plans within councils should consider making recycling accessible e.g. battery collection within super markets. As well as greater incentives such as monetary rewards and make recycled goods at the fraction of the price of goods made from the raw materials.
Councils and individuals have made a great deal of effort to recycle within recent years as within Northampton as a whole, the recycling rate of household waste has raised from 18% in 2001/02 to 39.2 in 2006/07. So the only way now is up with a few more incentives the rate can be a lot higher.
Northamptonshire Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy
http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B63E7599-1BCC-42DF-BF9E-8BC330278515/0/NJMWMSStrategyFINAL.pdf
1 comment:
Some really good comments here - you obviously do care yourself. and you are one of the few who have so far been active. Albeit at Reading.
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