West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published: 13 July 2007
Bad wrap for packaging
• WE keep reading about global warming and the effects of greenhouse gases and other environmental issues that affect us all, but one thing that would help now and in the near future is getting Gordon Brown and his government to address the serious issue of recycling. If there were a better dialogue between all the relevant parties, supermarket chains, producers, government national and local, I’m sure they could come up with a 10-point plan to stop using so much unnecessary packaging, which comprises much of our waste.
Products often come with multiple wrappings, why? Get back to basics. Paper can be recycled, so more products like fruit and vegetables could be put in paper bags. If greengrocers do it, why not the retailing giants? Many products need to have packaging that retain the freshness, and that’s understandable, but often they are made of materials that cannot be recycled, like wax-coated cartons, and I’m quite sure that applies to hundreds of other products. This needs to be addressed and changed now, not in 10 years’ time.
I think most people are in the dark over what can and cannot be recycled. Let’s make it clearer by labelling all goods. This could be done at source by the producers, much in the same way that cigarettes are labelled with a government health warning. If it costs a few pennies more to have this information, then I for one would be happy to pay it.
All recycle bins and collection points could then be clearly labelled, not just for glass, paper, tin cans and plastic bottles
Being green is all our responsibility, but we need input from all the relevant agencies now before its too late. EILEEN FRY
Tavistock Place, WC1
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