re cycling

 

                   The Brighton & Hove Circular Economy                   Action Plan 2020 - 2035

https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/business-and-trade/brighton-hove-circular-economy-action-plan-2020-2035#tab--promoting-circular-economy-activity-across-the-city

This jargon-filled mission statement regarding recycling is published by Council. Full of momentary fashionable misuse of perfectly simple but unexplained concepts such as 'stakeholders' and 'circular economy', it is not aimed at local residents, small business and shop owners, those for whom English is a second language, or, importantly, the 'average' person . It is a mangled word-fest presumably aimed at other Councils, as was so much of Brighton & Hove Council's public communication under the previous administration.

So as is usual with many of Councils "public" documents, two thirds of the population are confused - and bored stiff - by them; others are intimidated, and still others regard them as a cunning and deliberate plan to keep the Lower Orders in the dark while laying claim to transparency. Residents who are concerned about recycling, or those who need to be educated and inspired by the possibilities of converted rubbish and how it will impact the lives of their children and grandchildren, remain in the dark.

So I've collected quite a few sites which are intended, first, to capture people's attention. They're presented to communicate rather than obfuscate or confuse, and to take the mystery out of the whole subject of recycling. They do this to make people aware of the simple ways in which they themselves can convert that which is degrading the country into something that can contribute to saving, or at least changing, the planet's spiral into destruction. They're  written in plain - not over-simplified - language and provide visual images that can incentivise 'ordinary' people.

We're all well aware that Brighton is a dirty city. Plastic and paper whirl about when the wind blows, household waste overflows from filthy black bins which seem never to be cleaned. With the removal of so many dog waste-bins,  dog-poo fouls many streets and public places. With the closure of public lavatories human faeces are now also a feature of our pavements and alleys. (The previous Council's reluctant undertaking not to close them all is valid only until next year.)

This is all rather unfortunate as Brighton is a tourist town; millions of pounds have been allocated in order to lure tourists from other countries. The largest white elephant in the city, for example, despite local opposition, now dominates the beachfront and  has leaked money copiously since its installation - money which could have been of benefit to rate-payers. Money that could have been used in order to clean up the town and to implement practices which would benefit Brighton's citizens as well as visitors.

Re-cycling rates in Brighton and Hove are low - in  2020 only 29.4% of household waste was recycled - ranking us at 309 out of 341 country-wide. This year we are second-last; beating only Birmingham. We have nothing to be proud of in our waste management. (https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/best-cheap-uk-home-insurance/best-worst-councils-england-recycling )

Across the country Councils are implementing recycling schemes; some work together with other councils, some with advisers from successful initiatives, some with input from residents; while others have imported specialists from other countries. (Surprisingly, Brighton could well learn from Horsham how to implement curbside  collections cost effectively and how to involve residents in cleaning up their environment.) 

This next site is interesting - and inspiring - because it shows what is being done with recyclables, how innovative public campaigns are working, what is coming about with the inclusion of school students and their ideas and, most shamefully for Tourist-town Brighton, how first world countries with none of the financing available to us,  are successfully implementing recycling with simple machinery. Their various initiatives include making building materials, clothing, road surfacing and more, and turning various recycling units into successful business ventures by local people (https://www.circularonline.co.uk/news/news-in-brief-the-latest-waste-and-resource-news-10-02-23/  )

 If Brighton & Hove Council lack the financing needed to turn itself into a green city it could start implementing changes one by one. Being a seaside tourist town, for instance, we could begin with plastic bottles.  The damage we continue to do to marine life is well known, as is the knowledge that plastics are the main causes of it. However, many people are confused by which types of plastics go where for recycling. Whereas single use plastic bottles are easily identified; and once it becomes second nature which of them are recyclable, other initiatives can more easily be put in place. 

Previous research has shown that communication to the public about waste matters can have a major impact on individuals’ commitment to recycling. While the way in which recyclables are managed sends important messages about the commitment of the local authority to recycling . The implication is that participation in recycling can be increased where local authorities mount effective and continuous promotion of their recycling schemes.(https://whitespacews.com/news-snippets/6-innovative-ways-that-councils-got-more-households-recycling/ )

Taking a creative approach can make a massive difference to how many households recycle unwanted items, but encouraging uptake is only half the battle won. Local authorities need a good municipal waste management system in place to cope with increased demand, to ensure that recyclable items are dealt with cost-effectively.. (https//www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/27/how-councils-are-using-clever-and-innovative-)

The benefits of recycling plastic bottles include reduced waste in landfills, conservation of natural resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.  Other benefits are energy conservation and decreased pollution.

Recycling 1 ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space. Recycling also reduces litter near roads and in bodies of water. Recycling plastic bottles helps to conserve oil, which is available in limited supply. Recycling 1 ton of plastic conserves about 3.8 barrels of oil.

Recycling plastic uses up to two-thirds less energy than manufacturing it from raw materials. Recycling 1 pound of water bottles conserves about 12,000 British thermal units of heat energy. Energy conservation reduces the strain on power plants, in turn reducing fossil fuel consumption. Reducing fossil fuel consumption reduces carbon emissions, thereby reducing the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average family can reduce carbon emissions by up to 340 pounds per year by recycling plastic.

Recycling plastic bottles also helps reduce air pollution from landfill facilities that incinerate plastic bottles to save space. When plastic bottles break down in landfills, toxic chemicals can seep into the soil and contaminate groundwater. (https://www.reference.com/science-technology/benefits-recycling-plastic-bottles-9f15e80bd60cba3)

Brighton has a large 5th estate:  substantial numbers of students, a lot of retired people, many migrants, and far too many homeless and/or unemployed. This is a deep well from which to draw participants into any city-wide scheme.

 Brighton street art was a well-known feature which attracted visitors from all over Europe. These skilled artists could become part of a scheme to garner attention on recycling.

 Visits to schools, competitions for innovative solutions, public talks, media attention would also raise awareness of the importance of recycling.

Finally - a community which works together on a project for the betterment of their town tends to bond people together and allows them to be proud of their surroundings. While tourist dollars continue to escalate. 

 

   

Let's hope our new Labour Council will think it shameful  to be the second-to-last city in the UK in regard to recyclables. And hopefully they will engage in programmes concerning littering and recyclables with schools, public demonstrations of the way recycling can work, and consultations with people who have simple, clever, and much-needed input

And for anyone who's interested in the subject, here are a few more practical solutions. But just investigating on Google will bring up miles of info:

https://www.springwise.com/innovations/top-10-innovations-fighting-plastic-waste/ (What Britain has come up with)

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/shopping-sustainably/article/how-to-recycle-in-the-uk-ajwEz4p63Qs6  

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/8-inspiring-innovations-tackling-plastic-pollution/   (Businesses set up by private citizens - 50% of whom are female - cashing in on trash)https://www.thespruce.com/ways-to-reuse-plastic-bottles-4584358 (craft ideas.)

https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/17-cool-products-made-from-recycled-plastics  (funky items)https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/17-cool-products-made-from-recycled-plastics  (funky items) (Jamaican plastic)