My plan to help us win the war on waste
HOW do we solve the proliferation of plastic littering our countryside and beaches? First, mandate that most community sentences are directed towards rubbish clean-up. Then, as an offer for reduced prison sentences, get the lags into work gangs to assist, as there are nearly 100,000 in jail, kept there at vast expense. Meanwhile, look at industry to see if all plastic shopping bags can’t be replaced with paper versions, and consider other packaging. It should be easy enough. As for plastic bottles, it’s good news that a deposit return scheme – as advocated by many high street store chains – will be introduced in Scotland by the Scottish Government. Open up all council recycling plants to accept — without paperwork — any trade rubbish, in order to reduce flytipping. Charging less reputable builders to leave rubbish at a council-run sites is asking them to chuck it over a hedge. Punishment for fly-tipping must be severe — and that includes stuff left by travellers. Confiscate the offenders’ vehicles. They’ll soon stop doing it.
phiLip wEBBERLEY, warton, Lancs. CAN the Mail also help raise awareness of waste from ships? Some of the 300 to 400 cruise ships at sea with, say, 3,000 aboard, must produce the weekly equivalent of 750 households. Add in the thousands of other vessels and it is not difficult to extrapolate the total amount in tons dumped weekly.
John daRLinG, address supplied.