Ocado’s Not Very Green Packaging
When I buy beer from Beers of Europe, it comes in a box holding more than a dozen bottles. Ocado doesn’t use anything as efficient as that.
Four bottles are in a cardboard carrier and that is in a plastic bag. That isn’t very green and must be downright inefficient.
Hackney’s Domestic Food Waste System
Hackney has a two-bin food waste system that seems to work well.
I have a small bin in the kitchen and a larger one downstairs, which I put out once a week, with the other rubbish.
The larger one bin been designed for carrying, so I bring it upstairs to empty the smaller bin, rather than carry the waste down in its degradable liner.
I’m still using a shop carrier bag in a large IKEA plant pot for waste that can’t be recycled.
Both the liners for the food waste bin and green sacks for dry recycled waste are supplied by the council, by filling in an on-line form. Usually bags are delivered in a couple of days.
The system seems to be having the desired effect, as this page on the council’s web site shows. In 2001, the recycling rate was less than 1%, but now it is over 25%.
Big Belly Bins In Islington
I have a thing about street litter. My road isn’t particularly bad for rubbish, as we have a guy with a barrow, who patrols the area sweeping up anything that gets drops.
But it doesn’t deter people from piling waste around the litter bins in the road, as this picture shows.
Rubbish By A Bin In Hackney
I think a lot of what gets dumped is from people who have opted out of Hackney’s rcycling scheme, as bags often seem to be full of fast food packaging and disposable nappies. But some is definitely from commercial premises, as at times, I’ve seen people unloading rubbish by the bins from the back of pick-ups or vans.
I’ve passed the bin shown below at the Angel a couple of times, but today I had a good look.
An Islington Big Belly
It does appear to be in a better state than Hackney’s traditional bin. Perhaps those who think they will pile litter by bins, think that it’s got a camera inside.
The Big Belly web site, isn’t the easiest to navigate, but for a good explanation go to this page on the Islington web site. This is an extract.
The Big Belly units use solar power to compact litter so can hold up to eight times more litter than a normal bin, and email council staff when they need emptying.
Now under a pilot scheme 30 of the bins – which are also used in Times Square, New York – are being placed at busy recycling and litter hotspots in Islington, where street bins fill quickly.
I don’t know for sure, but I suspect as the bins are solar powered, they probably don’t need to be connected to any services. I did read on their web site, that they use SMS messaging to call for emptying.
I like the concept and suspect that it will get developed in the future to be even better and provide other services.
A Cute Waste Truck
This is probably the cutest waste truck you’ll see at the moment.
It is electric-powered and if nothing else is a good advert for the business.
After all, I photographed the vehicle and put it here.
Where Did That Go?
Jerry had put up this awful piece of granite as a splash back in the living room.
Jerry’s Bad Plastering
Perhaps he put it up, as he had a spare one and it would cover up his dreadful plasterwork. I sometimes wonder if Jerry’s surname was Boughton.
Before I went away, two guys took it off and down the stairs, leaving it on my patio by the street.
I then put a stick note on it, saying that anybody who wanted it could take it.
And take it they did!
I wonder how many hernia they got lifting it into the back of their car?
It really was a case of good riddance to bad rubbish!
How Often Do You Recycle?
Charles Clover in The Sunday Times has a thoughtful article about recycling. He says this.
There is an even more substantial obstacle to progress over the road in the shape of Eric Pickles, the communities secretary. Statistics show the best local authorities for recycling have certain things in common — one of them being fortnightly refuse collections. Despite all the evidence, Pickles gives grants to councils that keep weekly collections.
My council, Hackney, collects weekly, where they empty my wheelie bin and collect my green sack of recyclables.
But over the last couple months, I’ve happened to be out on bin day, so I make sure I put out the rubbish at least one week in two.
So is that fortnightly?
A Walk Along The Thames From Erith Station To Crossness
This afternoon I enjoyed the sun and walked along the Thames Path from near Erith Station to the Victorian Pumping Station at Crossness.
When looking at these pictures, you can see some of the places that I also saw on the cruise down the Thames.
I haven’t fully annotated the pictures yet, as finding out what some of the buildings are isn’t easy.
There’s some good technology at work in Crossness and they should tell people about it.
Peterborough Station’s Litter Bins
I came across these bins, when I changed trains at Peterborough.
What a wonderful example of simple, good design.
If this doesn’t nudge people to put their rubbish in the right bag then nothing will.
An Unusual Sight On Boxing Day Morning
I was surprised to see the binmen at work in the dark on Boxing Day.
An Unusual Sight On Boxing Day Morning
I didn’t put my rubbish out, as there was virtually nothing.
The Anonymous Widower 