Paul Johnston: Thoughts on environmental matters

Paul Johnston | 01 October 2007 | 08:34

Thoughts on environmental matters

It seems that the Labour conference didn't have much to say about the environment. GB hardly mentioned it. Hillary Benn was seen not using his 'bag for life' and London Community Recycling Network's latest communique suggests some interesting reading:-

"Labour-ious fixation on green light for election

This week the Labour party had their Bournemouth conference and Hilary Benn was spotted forgetting to use his ‘bag for life'. Environmental policies were sparse, however and the focus remained on whether there would be a snap election:

- Hilary Benn phases out traditional lightbulbs (read the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' speech here)http://www.labour.org.uk/conference/hillary_benn"

If you read it please note the blue, white and red masthead - part of the famous 'Britishness' no doubt.

Meanwhile, back at home I have been contacted by a Berrylands resident who has had a visitation from the Trial Recycling Enforcers who seemed unable to decipher the word 'biodegradable' on a biodegradable composting bag he had used to avoid the plague of maggots in his food recycling bin.

I am also trying to find out more about the Kingston Permaculture Centre.....

Should have gone to Blackpool, I suppose.

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Jon Fray

on 04 October 2007 at 11:35

Does anyone understand how a 'biodegradable' bag would prevent/ avoid a 'plague' of maggots? Any answers? Why not wrap the waste in newspaper as the council has requested?
The problem with people ignoring what they've been told is that some will chose to use carrier bags or postal film which are also marked as 'biodegradable'. This will cause a problem because the 'biodegradable' carrier bags that, for instance, the Co-op issue are actually plastic bags that fragment rather than compost. If the residents ignore what the council have told them then there is a high risk that the food waste collected will be contaminated with plastics and therefore useless and will have to be sent to landfill instead of composting. That would be a great shame.
It wouldn't be very effective for the food waste collectors to scrutinise every plastic box that they empty to check on the nature of the sack inside. Therefore they say "No sacks"