The summer has arrived, so have the blue wheelie bins. The weather has been great and the blue bins a common look.
Everybody wanted to get a bit of that sun and spent time in their garden, the river or on the road. So did I, and on a late sunny afternoon, after many, many times passing Silver Bridge I decided to park my car and walk down to the falls.
This time it was not the water that was attracting me but the rocks. In the previous days I had seen some youths jumping into the falls, and now I was wanting to be impressed by the height of the bridge and the rocks themselves. Well, I was impressed.
The bridge did definitely not convince me of being safe. Looking down the rocks reassured me. I took a big breath and with the sound of the falls I proceeded. I noticed some good natural steps. But when I looked over the edge, I was shocked by the litter and plastic bottles. I turned around and noticed more and more. There was even an aluminium barbecue, with some sausages left for me!
Question: How can these young people have such a great time together in the water, travelling from far, having a barbecue, loving the place and NOT taking their rubbish and other stuff with them?
Doesn’t the place look much better, if, when you return with your mates if the bottles and rubbish were not there? Besides if you like the place why not look after it? Ok, I could understand the attitude “I DON’T CARE” if you did not have a rubbish bin at home.
But, because people do have rubbish bins in their homes, and do have respect for their own environment there, surely, must be a way of expanding this to all the places where these people pass!
Now there’s an idea!
27th April 2009 Ward Forum meeting in Kinlochewe: Main issue was a discussion on Waste Management. Colin Clark, Head Waste Management HC, gave an extensive explanation for the benefits of a “Zero Waste” society, how much challenge it would be to come to this target and to promote the awareness of reducing waste, to no waste.
Highland Council could not reach the target from The Landfill Allowance Scheme in March 2008, leaving them with a fine (70,299 tonnes to landfill, 2,706 tonnes over the allowance).
HC is now working close together with Moray Council (who well succeeded their target) regarding logistics and costs savings. The whole of Scotland reached the total target and HC has progressed in many ways since their start in 2005. Recycling was 9% at that time with 30.7% March 2008. In 2010 HC have to reach target of 40%.
That this is a big challenge, it is believed, with an average of 8 persons /km2 in Highlands.
Another interesting schedule Colin showed was the amount going to landfill in other European countries, with Germany on the top with 5% only going to landfill at present. Also the amount of energy from waste is to be jealous of. Most European countries started 20 years ago and the UK is very far behind. Still very positive, Colin is determined to reach the same.
Everybody wanted to get a bit of that sun and spent time in their garden, the river or on the road. So did I, and on a late sunny afternoon, after many, many times passing Silver Bridge I decided to park my car and walk down to the falls.
This time it was not the water that was attracting me but the rocks. In the previous days I had seen some youths jumping into the falls, and now I was wanting to be impressed by the height of the bridge and the rocks themselves. Well, I was impressed.
The bridge did definitely not convince me of being safe. Looking down the rocks reassured me. I took a big breath and with the sound of the falls I proceeded. I noticed some good natural steps. But when I looked over the edge, I was shocked by the litter and plastic bottles. I turned around and noticed more and more. There was even an aluminium barbecue, with some sausages left for me!
Question: How can these young people have such a great time together in the water, travelling from far, having a barbecue, loving the place and NOT taking their rubbish and other stuff with them?
Doesn’t the place look much better, if, when you return with your mates if the bottles and rubbish were not there? Besides if you like the place why not look after it? Ok, I could understand the attitude “I DON’T CARE” if you did not have a rubbish bin at home.
But, because people do have rubbish bins in their homes, and do have respect for their own environment there, surely, must be a way of expanding this to all the places where these people pass!
Now there’s an idea!
27th April 2009 Ward Forum meeting in Kinlochewe: Main issue was a discussion on Waste Management. Colin Clark, Head Waste Management HC, gave an extensive explanation for the benefits of a “Zero Waste” society, how much challenge it would be to come to this target and to promote the awareness of reducing waste, to no waste.
Highland Council could not reach the target from The Landfill Allowance Scheme in March 2008, leaving them with a fine (70,299 tonnes to landfill, 2,706 tonnes over the allowance).
HC is now working close together with Moray Council (who well succeeded their target) regarding logistics and costs savings. The whole of Scotland reached the total target and HC has progressed in many ways since their start in 2005. Recycling was 9% at that time with 30.7% March 2008. In 2010 HC have to reach target of 40%.
That this is a big challenge, it is believed, with an average of 8 persons /km2 in Highlands.
Another interesting schedule Colin showed was the amount going to landfill in other European countries, with Germany on the top with 5% only going to landfill at present. Also the amount of energy from waste is to be jealous of. Most European countries started 20 years ago and the UK is very far behind. Still very positive, Colin is determined to reach the same.
Finally:
* Clothes from recycling bank Garve are sent to Nathan Waste Savers Ltd. All banks emptied here. 1 million items sorted every week in central Scotland. Clothing sold on, affordably, to poor folk in Africa and Asia. Further information see web.
* Ullapool Plastic bottles - Due to low price plastic bottles Graham Imrie could not afford yet to start again with pick-ups. Good news is the price is going up again, and Ullapool will be celebrating hopefully soon.
* Kinlochewe plastic bottles - Tom Forres and co (all volunteers) have written a letter with business proposal, to HC, for support in recycling in this rural community. They are still waiting for response.
* Ullapool Plastic bottles - Due to low price plastic bottles Graham Imrie could not afford yet to start again with pick-ups. Good news is the price is going up again, and Ullapool will be celebrating hopefully soon.
* Kinlochewe plastic bottles - Tom Forres and co (all volunteers) have written a letter with business proposal, to HC, for support in recycling in this rural community. They are still waiting for response.
I will be doing a clean up very soon along road side.
Anyone wanting to join in will be very welcome!
Larisa Jansen
01997 455230
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