Keep ‘green’ dream alive
Friday 5th December 2008, 2:30PM GMT.
NEWS that kerbside recycling could be consigned to the States’ waste paper bin is disappointing. The future of the scheme hangs in the balance following plans announced by Public Services this week to scrap it on the grounds of high cost and land shortage.
Unless there is a rethink before next week it could be the States that has the final say – if one ‘devastated’ deputy has his way.
Which actually might not be such a bad thing.
If former Environment minister Deputy David De Lisle drums up enough support for a requete then the loss of one of the cornerstones of the island’s ‘green’ agenda will become a matter for the whole Assembly to vote upon.
Ending the flagship project would be a significant development with lasting environmental implications.
Ditching the idea, which has already been trialled in some parishes with apparent success, would be a seriously retrograde step.
Many had high hopes that the trials would go well and the scheme would be extended across the whole island.
Losing kerbside collection would almost certainly put Guernsey’s 50% recycling target in jeopardy – which has to be bad news not just for States members but for all of us.
Clearly, in the current financial climate some projects must become spending casualties – sadly, that is unavoidable.
But with the major issue of a waste plant still undecided, this scheme is one environmental quick-win that should be pursued with maximum vigour.
The success of other recycling measures, such as bottle and paper banks and the Longue Hougue tip for metal recycling show that a large wave of public support exists out there.
And the recent victory for tetra-pak recycling is another impressive example of some of the great strides that can be achieved by the community when it puts its mind to it.
By ending kerbside collection the States will be sending out a mixed message to people who have shown that, with a little help, they are keen to play a part in protecting the island for future generations.
Cash versus climate change is never going to be an easy call.
Yet, in this case, it would be a shame if we were to fall at the first fence.
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I’m afraid the green dream is just that. It’s neither realistic nor saves the planet. In fact it’s uneconomic, expensive, dangerous to man, beast and plant life and fundamentally flawed.
Firstly if we dumped everything into landfill it would take up less than 1% of our land mass. Landfill is cheap and efficient and the perfect answer.
What the greens and EU have done is to make landfill ‘dangerous’ talking faliscous junk science about ‘leeching’ etc. Wouldn’t be to make money for the incenerator industry would it?
The incinerator answer is disturbingly expensive and a far greater threat to our health than landfill. It’sa joke from any angle. Just as the green fraud about plastic bags are egged on by supermarkets who can now charge 5p for plastic bags and make a 400% mark-up on something they previously provided free.
Recycling is also provides no beenfits. I recycle but it’s a waste of time and an industry that doesn’t pay its way and would be bankrupt without peoples help or Govt subsidy.
We are paying through the nose for a green lifestyle that offers no benefits. Like man made climate change it is a huge hoax and in many cases a blatant fraud.
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Ah, the self-righteous indignation of the uninformed and media misled.
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Fast Robert, not sure if you’re reffering to my post or the article!
I’m very well informed on green issues (hoaxes) and it ain’t from the media who’s bias on green issues and climate change is so blatantly one-sided (despite all the scientific evidence) I’ve lost all confidence in the integrity of the Press and media including that socialist Politburo the BBC.
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