One time plastic use

That is not entirely true. A leading retail company was asked why it continued to offer plastic bags (5p charge) rather than changing over to paper. The answer was that paperbags use far more energy to produce than plastic (I was surprised by that) and if they are good quality printed bags they don't break down very quickly either. 

David

Do they 'really' use that much more energy? Whilst energy consumption is part of the equation, it has to be viewed in the context of total environmental impact.

I suppose it depends which way you look at it. Is cutting down trees which give us quite a lot of environmental protection whilst they are growing worse than making bags from recycled plastic? I shall try and find the article.

David

A lot of forests are replanted along with cutting down trees so as to be sustainable.  But the government themselves are far from organised for recycling of waste.   for example, if they were, no matter where you lived in the country, the only thing that would change would be the day of collection.  The receptacles for waste, and what was or was not allowed, would be identical.  At the moment, even district councils within the same county can have widely differing arrangements.

Hmm!

I can see that recycling and being green are two different matters.

I am by no means a 'greenie' but will nonetheless operate a composting section in my garden. I will even sort out plastic for the local council. However I draw the line at Tree preservation Orders (TPOs). My local council issues them at the drop of a hat with the result that I will no longer grow/permit to grow any tree that is a UK native one. I like my own choice of when, where and how old.

As for plastic I am far from convinced that the Council recycle enough.

Sadly we can but try and hope our successive generations do not look too unkindly upon us - but I doubt it.

They've probably changed their minds by now, especially since the evidence of plastics in our oceans and water. I noticed that London is introducing more water fountains so that people can refill water bottles rather than purchase them for single use.

London's first new water fountains LINK

Maybe if people considered tap water was ok rather than long distance plastic packed spring water we might reduce plastic waste everywhere.

This seems like a step in the right direction, maybe plastic bag users will consider using alternatives (I'm a plastic bag user but I've started to replace them with fabric bags, hoping the fabric can be recycled at some point?)

Just watched it B2-thanks for the heads up, it was astounding👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻. From the ‘low’ of knowing our capital(London) is allowing an old dump site to pollute the Thames then the Oceans with all manner of pollutants including shredded plastics & asbestos. To the ‘up’ of discovering the partial DNA of over 3,000 unknown life forms living in/on the leechate that could potentially solve the plastics/landfill conundrum. Shockingly enlightening😊

I was in an M&S café today, they were selling M&S re-usable drinks containers for £3, if used there will be a 25p reduction on drinks purchases. Not as nice as a cup and saucer or mug, but perfectly ok and a good reduction on a coffee or tea etc and useful as a travel container. 

Maybe if people considered tap water was ok rather than long distance plastic packed spring water

I have been in London and tasted the tap water.  It is terrible compared to spring water - tastes as if it was been through the sewage works a couple of times - oh, wait - much of it has!

Absolutely agree. The water is disgusting, but then 10 years ago, I was told the drinking water had already been through 6 pairs of kidneys and that I was never further than 6' away from a rat! 

Not been back 😧