The UK chucks the most away

[Smooth Hound]

Apparently 15% of the food we buy ends up in the landfills, it should all be recycled in worm beds and turned into compost and help to save whats left of the peat bogs in the process, I think they are starting to turn garden and forest waste into a soil improver which is a good thing. Ones things for sure though something fairly radical will have to be done because there is no room on the landfills left they have already increased on the burning and there is talk of a further increase of something like 10%.

[ian]

Abbingdonboy wrote: Sorry but taxing the bin bags people put out won't work. Just think of the fly tipping problem that it would create.

This is not the experience in ROI we have had a 15cent (10p) charge on carrier bags for two years now. Results for the first year showed a 95% reduction in usage in 2006 over '05 This year, though official figures are'nt in would indicate and increase in carrier bag usage to about 15% of the 2005 figures, which indicates people are familiar with the charge and now more willing to pay. The main solution to this on offer at the moment is to double the carrier bag tax.
As for bin tags, there is no indication that the charge caused an increase in fly tipping during the two years of operation. The charge is €8 (about £5) for a 240 litre bin. Green bin collections are free. Fly tipping does occur and always has done, there is simply an element of society out there, who no matter what incentives are on offer will not bother to do the decent thing.

Regards Ian.

[Muddypause]

Fly tipping does occur and always has done

It always amazes me that, when out for a walk in the countryside, two miles from the nearest road, you will always find, without fail, an old fridge, boiler or washing machine. What is the thought process that goes through their minds..."We can carry ithis out into nowhere, struggling and sweating for miles, and chuck it where no-one will see us, or we can take it down to the corporation tip and offload it for free."

[Smooth Hound]

Abbingdonboy wrote: Sorry but taxing the bin bags people put out won't work. Just think of the fly tipping problem that it would create.

This is not the experience in ROI we have had a 15cent (10p) charge on carrier bags for two years now. Results for the first year showed a 95% reduction in usage in 2006 over '05 This year, though official figures are'nt in would indicate and increase in carrier bag usage to about 15% of the 2005 figures, which indicates people are familiar with the charge and now more willing to pay. The main solution to this on offer at the moment is to double the carrier bag tax.
As for bin tags, there is no indication that the charge caused an increase in fly tipping during the two years of operation. The charge is €8 (about £5) for a 240 litre bin. Green bin collections are free. Fly tipping does occur and always has done, there is simply an element of society out there, who no matter what incentives are on offer will not bother to do the decent thing.

Regards Ian.

5 pounds for a 240 ltr bin, that seems alot of money, in Scotland we already pay a council tax to pay for the emptying of 1 wheely bin a week, and whilst i am for recycling , it worries me that i might have to pay 5 pounds a week , thats 250 pounds a year to get what i already pay for in my council tax. i dont know how it works in ireland but i presume you must have had a decrease in you charges to make up for that, or is it that every one or house hold is now paying an extra 5 pounds per week or how ever often it is emptied, more so if you have children i would have thought, for something they already pay for.

[ian]

Hi Smooth Hound,
there are no council taxes here. No water rates/ground rent etc. So I guess this is how they supplement their income from the state. We have 2 small children and put our bin out twice a month sometimes every 3 weeks if i leave packaging at the supermarket and compost more regularly.
Regards, Ian.