"WASTE: is something we throw away because we no longer
need it or want it" (www.wasteonline.org.uk)
2010
When it comes to our waste there are many questions, statements
and beliefs. Many have come from secondary school students, youth
community groups and often other members of the public.
"What's the point, what difference could I make
anyway..?"
"There's no point recycling, the worlds going to end in
2012 anyway!"
"My dad reckons recycling goes to landfill, it's a
waste of time."
"Does
rubbish give people jobs?"
If you have another question or would like more information,
please feel free to drop us, the wasteservices@merthyr.gov.uk
an email. Or give us a call on 01685 725138.
Do you need info for a project,
doing a bit of research or just want to know more?
What do you think? Join in some
discussions here.
"What's
the point, what difference could I make
anyway..?"
There are many people in the world, not just Merthyr Tydfil that
think recycling is a waste of time. These people have probably read
statistics that suggest that the greatest environmental impacts
come from car emissions and factories and that placing your
recycling out every week is virtually useless. Every little helps.
If everyone thought there was no point, then it definitely wouldn't
make a difference. However, the key word in paragraph above is
"virtually". The more that people take part the more of a positive
impact recycling will have on the environment.
"There's no
point recycling, the worlds going to end in 2012
anyway!"
I think we can safely say that the world ending in 2012 has
become a concern as the result of a Hollywood dramatised film. The
Waste Awareness Officer of Merthyr Tydfil Council says "you would
be surprised by how many young people actually use this as a reason
to not recycle". Let's face it, the world could end tomorrow, but
just in case it doesn't, why not look after the place we call home,
Planet Earth, in the meantime.
"My dad
reckons recycling goes to landfill, it's a waste of
time."
All waste that is put out for recycling in Merthyr Tydfil is
recycled! When the green WOW box recycling is collected it is taken
to an MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) otherwise known as a
sorting centre near Aberdare. On arrival at the MRF the recycling
is tipped into a huge pile where it is then placed onto a conveyer
belt. The belt then passes the materials through both a manual and
machine picking line. Each person is tasked with "picking off" a
certain item and the machines select steel through magnets) and
plastic bags (through blowers). Once there is a specific amount of
each material they are then sent to individual factories
specialising in re-processing and recycling the materials into
new
products.
The food and garden waste is collected from the kerbside and is
taken to
an In-Vessel Composting facility near Gelligaer. Once the food and
garden
waste has arrived at the site it starts the recycling process.
After approximately
18 weeks the waste has reached a state of crumbly compost. This
compost is used in various local places, quite significantly used
within the schools of Merthyr Tydfil as part of the "grow your own"
initiative.
All bulky household waste collected at the kerbside is now also
sent to
the Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRC's) also known
as
the skips/CA sites where as they recycle as many of the items as
possible.
By making recycling a global habit and one of Merthyr Tydfil, we
set up our world and local community to be more efficient, cleaner
and less destructive for our children to enjoy in the future. The
act of recycling can be hard for some people to undertake because
the fail to see the wider implications for society, both now and in
the future.
You and each individual will make a difference. You will not only
be directly reducing your waste to landfill but starting to change
the perception of those around you.
"Does
rubbish give people jobs?"
There are many jobs that have been created as a result of
recycling schemes. Some of these will include; lorry collection
drivers and workers, sorting centre employees, transportation
drivers and factory employees.
