| nation we seem to be using more and more stuff, | | | | more restricted and more expensive. |
| which in turn creates more and more rubbish. | | | | The regular weekly home rubbish collection is also a |
| Numerous initiatives to help, or force, us to create | | | | disappearing service. All over the country local councils |
| less waste are already widespread but once we have | | | | and authorities are already reducing the volume of |
| generated something that needs to be thrown away, | | | | rubbish they are prepared to collect. They are doing |
| exactly what are our options and how are they likely | | | | this by forcing people to separate out any waste |
| to change over time? | | | | that can be recycled and also be reducing the |
| The issue of household waste is already a | | | | frequency with which they empty bins. They are also |
| mainstream discussion topic for individuals, families, | | | | being stricter of households that seem to |
| authorities and environmental pressure groups. Our | | | | over-generate in the rubbish stakes. For example |
| ability to create ever increasing volumes of waste | | | | some authorities will refuse to empty a bin where |
| and rubbish is a major concern and new laws are | | | | the lid is not completely closed. For them it’s |
| already being implemented to force people to | | | | an indication of a home generating too much rubbish, |
| consider very carefully their approaches to disposal, | | | | which seems a little unfair, when some households |
| recycling and reusing. Whether they decide to get rid | | | | have many more residents than others. A system of |
| of their rubbish using skip hire services, local authority | | | | individual charging seems to be the fairest, where |
| refuse collection or by visiting their local amenity | | | | homes are given a rubbish quota based on the |
| rubbish tip will not be a straightforward decision soon. | | | | number and type of residents. An older couple would |
| Local councils are being compelled by new laws to | | | | receive a smaller quota that a family with three |
| both handle less waste and to dispose of any waste | | | | young children say. But the mechanisms for efficiently |
| they do collect in more sustainable ways, and that | | | | enforcing such schemes have yet to be created. |
| usually means more expensive ways. | | | | Those suggested so far, such as the weighing of bins |
| The cost of sustainable waste disposal is one that will | | | | as they are emptied, all have their flaws. |
| ultimately be borne by the householders themselves, | | | | There are also the other issues of leaving waste |
| either through their regular household rates or council | | | | disposal down to the individual. In the best case this |
| tax charges or by levies at the point of disposal. | | | | simply creates more hassle and more road journeys |
| Getting rid of rubbish is not a cheap business and | | | | if people are to be expected to drive to their local |
| those who act responsibly and create less waste are | | | | amenity site to get rid of their rubbish and in the |
| not going to happily subsidise the more carefree | | | | worst case it simply increases the level of fly tipping, |
| rubbish generators for very long. | | | | which is a concern for many. |
| Gone are days when the easiest and lowest cost | | | | At the moment many families are doing their very |
| option was to just throw your rubbish for the | | | | best to control their waste generation and improve |
| weekly refuse collection and we’ll look in | | | | their recycling performance. There will always be |
| more detail at that option in a moment. Also | | | | some people who abandon any concern for these |
| numbered are the days when you can call a skip hire | | | | schemes and simply carry on regardless, generating |
| firm and for just a small amount of money a huge | | | | unnecessary rubbish. Eventually the number of people |
| receptacle would arrive that you could happily fill with | | | | behaving in this way will reduce and peer pressure will |
| anything you liked for it to be taken a few days later | | | | take effect. |
| and be gone forever. Hiring a skip these days is still | | | | Already, levels of waste and rubbish created by |
| one option , but the charges are now much higher | | | | householders are down significantly on previous |
| and the items you can actually place in a skip are | | | | years, despite our penchant for throw-away goods |
| becoming more restricted. Tradesmen like builders | | | | and packaging. Skip hire companies are seeing a |
| obviously still need options like skip hire services, | | | | reduction in trade and companies providing products |
| otherwise they would simply be unable to do their | | | | that aid recycling are seeing a boost. Ultimately |
| job, so it’s not a service that will disappear | | | | disposing of rubbish is gong to cost everyone money |
| completely anytime soon, at least not until a better | | | | and no-one is going to like spending their hard earned |
| alternative of removing building waste from a site is | | | | cash on throwing things away. The end result will be |
| made available. But for the individual or householder | | | | better purchasing, less waste and better recycling |
| the choices in terms of skip hire are sure to become | | | | and re-using. A good result all round we think. |