We need to look close to home for waste

MOST people are keen to blame the Government and large companies or organisations for the volumes of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere – but how many realise how much as individuals we contribute through waste, excess and laziness?

How many families run more than one car or dozens of pieces of technology, later left on standby? How many lights are left on in rooms without occupation? How many clothes are purchased to be used once only? How many share a car for work, how many buses run virtually empty, how many leave their vehicles running idle? How many extra journeys are made to deliver fast food?

How many people waste heat through poor management or lack of insulation? How many people cook individually rather than for a family? With a so-called paperless society, how much is still generated unnecessarily? How much of the technology produced is necessary and relevant?

How many will afford the technology designed to reduce emissions and what will the disposal of electric car batteries will cause if not regulated and dumped into landfill, causing chemicals to leak into our streams and rivers?

Then we have the felling of the rainforest to raise coffee and beef cattle to meet the demands of our fast-food restaurants.

Tony Morris, by email