What’s Bin Did

Or, more appropriately, which might be did. To weigh or not to weigh, that is the question; to track or not to track is another, all on the same post-Shakespearian big brother theme. Intrusion into a family’s waste habits is nothing to do with journalists trying to find incriminating letters in the dustbins of the famous. In the UK it is about local authorities embedding microchips in wheelie bins, and installing weighing machines on waste collection trucks. So, every household’s weekly fortnightly waste collection was to be weighed and recorded on a database. The concept was that families should pay for wasted deposal according to the weight they dispose of. There is some merit in the idea, but of course it is never that simple.
Now, that is not half as bad as in Germany, where family waste has to be sorted into several categories. Germany leads the world in household waste recycling/composting with its 64% in 2007 being achieved (and only 1% going into landfill). Households there have at least 3 waste containers under the sink.
The problem is that in Germany, neighbours will report each other for using the wrong waste container. Then there is a visit by a local official and a fine is levied (if the case is proven). What a job that must be! If you have ever used a household German WC, then you will be aware of a certain scatological interest. Still, it is reported that 50% of German household waste gets misclassified and the German ‘garbage police’ have plenty to do.

What’s Bin Hid

One problem predicted by the anti waste-weigh brigade is that people (as always) would try to get round the rules – whether ‘adjusting a tax return’, moonlighting, or disposing of household waste. And when it comes to waste, it was predicted that some families would cheat. Sneaking waste into other neighbours’ bins would be a likely outcome. Now, it’s not in the nature of the British to ‘tell on the neighbours’ – as is the case in Germany and Switzerland, but a family transferring some of their household waste tax liability to a neighbour by a secret midnight dumping mission would be a realistic possibility. The idea of padlocks on wheelie bins might not have been that far removed from reality.
British newspapers became very excited about the whole issue, and with a change of government, the new waste disposal plans were – yes, disposed of. Or more accurately – ‘hid’ – for return, they will as sure as eggs.
The volume of waste packaging that the average household generates is quite staggering, but that particular problem has to be solved at the manufacturer’s end. Proper attention to that issue would considerably reduce the need for recycling, solving the problem at source. Even if the UK achieved a 50% recycling target for household waste, the country would still have a very big problem. The ‘low hanging fruit’ would be picked first, as is being done with paper, cans and glass.
The other half would be the more challenging, but Local Authority household recycling rules do not help and sometimes make no sense at all. ‘Wash food containers before recycling’. How much water does that take? ‘No food containers to be recycled’: so the plastic tray that my chicken drumsticks came in has to go to landfill? Madness.
However, I do love the local household goods recycling depot. That has been a great development, and cut down on household fly-tipping – ‘What’s Bin Hid’. The latest treasure was two dining chairs which are an exact match for the others we have. Now that’s what I call recycling – not ‘hid’ at all, but retrieved (for a small fee) and used. I just need to find record player there and I can listen to ‘What’s Bin Did and What’s Bin Hid’ again.

Anyway, we jumped into landfill – someone said that bad things happen when recyclable materials go to landfill. So, in the interests of a friendly argument I said no, it’s all good. That started the ball rolling, but after the dust had settled the debate carried on in my head, and here I am writing about it. I realised it’s not as straightforward as it seems. It is actually a complex discussion because it opens up the whole recycling debate.

I found out that the prices of recyclable materials have gone down in line with reduced economic activity. Specifically, glass, metals, paper and plastics prices had dropped and town councils could not afford to store the bulk until prices improved so they could sell it profitably. Gold, though, was an exception – there is gold in the connectors in computer equipment (which has to be specially recycled anyway), and gold prices have shot up over the last couple of years.

Paper is a bad recyclable for a landfill because when it decomposes the chemicals leak into the environment – it is not the cellulose fibre that causes the problems but the chemicals that bind the fibres together. Traditional printer inks contain heavy metals, though this is now declining as vegetable-based inks are more widely used. Although the UK recycles a high proportion of paper (3.8 million tons in 2011 from household sources and 8 million tons in total 2011), there is still a lot that finds its way into landfill. Metals are less of an issue in landfill, though paint and plastic coatings may take an age to decompose. Glass is practically immortal in landfill, and many plastics will take hundreds of years to decompose – and even then there may be a residue.

So, we have poisons and persistence – though inert materials such as glass are not inherently harmful in landfill and persistence is not such an issue. The two main reasons why it is bad to put recyclables in landfill are two sides of the same coin (or as the football commentator famously said ‘it was a match of two halves’).

Firstly, it is a lost opportunity – if they are recyclables, then they should be recycled. Of course, economics comes into play and there may be a time when we see ‘waste tax’ in the same way as we have ‘carbon tax’ and ‘carbon credits’ to change commercial behaviour and drive more recycling. Companies already have to report waste packaging usage.

Secondly, landfill sites are environmentally sensitive and scarce. Nobody wants to live near one. Putting recyclables into them eats up precious volume.

That leads into my final point – organic waste is a large component of landfill, and few people today recycle in home compost heaps. In Victorian times it was not unusual for people to keep a pig, which was fed much of the food scraps and peelings. I know, because I once lived in a small Victorian house with a pigsty. The Victorians also used to recycle newsprint, in the bathroom (I’m being polite). That led to other problems, which I discovered when renovating an outside drain at the house. It didn’t quite recycle, and it had persisted…

Because of the high levels of organic matter, modern landfill sites have to be constructed to vent off the methane gas which develops when organic household waste (including newspaper) decomposes, and that’s the bad news at the landfill site. It is also why we have peat, coal deposits, and oil fields today – what goes around comes around, if you have enough time to wait. Given another 10,000 years I might have had a peat deposit in my outside drain, with fewer traces of Boer War news stories!

The only solution to that is purchasing a wheelie bin, preferably lockable, which guarantees that all intruders will be kept out and prevents any littering. The standard capacity for household wheelie bins in of 240 litres, yet many variations are available and the choice should be made according to every household’s needs.  They range from small bins with a capacity of under 100 litres to giant 1100 litre ones, which are typically used on commercial premises. They are generally made from plastic and thus are very light and more hygienic than other variations; their wheels also insure excellent mobility. The locking feature is important as well, as seagulls and other animals have the strength to push lids open and the imminent result is the usual mess. In fact, in large cities they are known to regularly ransack through tenement bins, which are communal and are never locked. Although wheelie bins with lockable lids are more expensive, in the long run they are well worth the money as they will save you a lot of trouble.

Needless to say, in areas where councils don’t provide wheelie bins for general waste, they don’t provide recycling bins either (although there usually are some communal ones, even small villages). If you want your own recycling bins however, you should look into buying wheelie bins for this purpose (some models come with special apertures for each type of material) or indoor recycling bins, if your property is spacious enough.

Household waste auditing (on a voluntary basis, this time) is also used by certain organisations in a bid to help people learn how to sort their rubbish and minimise the amount sent to landfill, by using a practical demonstration on their own waste and encouraging them to change their habits. Whilst there is no doubt that the finality is a positive one, the method is still subject to a bit of controversy. The sheer willingness of some people to allow access to what was once considered private, as opposed to simply learning more about recycling from the plethora of available sources, leads to a somewhat dangerous precedent and the lack of opposition to undisclosed invasions of privacy, such as those carried out by councils, mentioned above. It is seemingly not enough for people to expose more and more of their daily trivia on social networking sites; now they are being encouraged to let strangers assess any aspect of their lives, including rubbish.

As the UK turns into a police state, we will certainly hear more stories of this kind. To the average citizen this is of course shocking, especially considering the magnitude of the operation for an incredible trifle. There is no doubt that by allowing media exposure, a message of intimidation was sent to the general public, namely that they are being scrutinized and taking any liberty of this kind, even though it is not an immoral act or detrimental to anyone, will result in serious consequences. Anywhere in their communities, when outside their homes, people should become aware that they are being constantly watched. Of course we now know Orwell’s 1984 was anything but fiction and that any similarities between the world he envisaged and present day reality are no coincidence. Most people still refuse to believe that the absurdity and persecution of citizens will intensify, yet when the misappropriation of rubbish brings about a helicopter chase, even the most placid and unaware should sense that something isn’t right.
Recycling bin inspections are not a new notion today, although a few years ago, they did generate some backlash, especially since recycling was not mandatory and people going out of their way to comply were being targeted and their recycling rummaged through. Today however there’s little fuss about it; people have adapted.

Putting out the rubbish or/and recycling for collection too early will also result in a fine from the council, as previous cases have proved. The manner in which the council becomes aware that the rubbish bins are out before collection actually takes place is not dwelled upon though – surprisingly enough. In one famous case and presumably other cases as well, it was through CCTV monitoring. Enquiries made to councils proved that not even elderly people, who need someone else to move the bins for them and place them outside, are exempt from this rule. It seems that councils and even courts, if appealed to, have no moral qualms nowadays about imposing hefty fines on financially disadvantaged people who cannot afford to pay them.

It’s a massive problem, but one that could be solved quite simply with a bit of time and effort. Recycling bins are ever more ubiquitous sights around the country and we should all make an effort to use them more.

In terms of reducing the harm caused by landfill, one small but significant way you can do this is by getting yourself a dedicated battery bin, particularly if you use a lot of them at home or in your office. This is because batteries leak acid and other chemicals when they’re left too long and need to be specially recycled. Unfortunately, most of them still end up in landfill. Get your home or office a small, sealable bin where they can be stored until you can dispose of them properly – it doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just a small pedal bin or dedicated recycling bin for harmful items will do the job.

Of course, recycling more generally is also a fantastic way to reduce landfill. A great way to do this – and encourage those you live or work with to do it, too – is to get a set of dedicated recycling bins. These often come with different coloured lids so you can assign different colours to different recyclable items, such as blue for paper and green for garden waste.

You can also get dedicated cup collectors, which are brilliant for offices where the water cooler sees a lot of use. These reduce the volume of cups for recycling and store them more effectively so you can manage the amount of waste you throw away. They even come with a removable flask that collects any waste left in the cups so you don’t even need to worry about the mess – a great solution for introducing recycling practices to your building, reducing landfill and using your bins more productively all at the same time.

Bins for bathrooms, toilets and washrooms are no different. And whether you are in need of a bathroom bin for the home or bins for busy public washrooms, there are several aspects that need to be considered.

Type of Waste

As with most bins the type of waste that goes into a bin is the fundamental element that defines the design and type of bin required. Much of the waste that goes into bathroom bins, whether at home or in public, are items like tissues, empty toilet rolls and paper towels. For these types of items, the bathroom bin only needs to be very basic – just a receptacle large enough to hold such waste.

However, there are other items that are disposed of in bathrooms and toilet facilities, and these need more consideration.

Sanitary Bins

There are many items used in a bathroom or toilet facility that require secure, hygienic storage. Any items disposed of with bodily fluids such as feminine towels or razors, especially in a public location need to be stored hygienically and securely. Sanitary bins have been designed for such a purpose.

Sanitary bins, are deigned to prevent access by hands or items from spilling out if the bin is knocked over. They are also designed to allow hygienic emptying without the need for people to handle the waste.

Most public washrooms will require both sanitary bins for the cubicles, and waste bins to collect the paper towels and other bathroom waste.

Nappy Bins

Bathroom areas are not the only place where bins of a sanitary nature are needed. Households with young children, nurseries, hospitals and even family hotels, often need nappy bins for parents who use traditional washable nappies. These more eco-friendly baby nappies are having a resurgence as more and more people realise the environmental impact of disposables.

Nappy bins provide a secure receptacle that allows the soiled nappies to be stored until they are washed with a tight fitting lid to prevent smells, and a large enough capacity are all important features of a good nappy bin.

65l nappy bin

Of course, most people use the bins as they’re meant to and don’t drop litter where they’re standing simply because it seems more convenient. Of course, it’s not convenient to drop litter. It’s untidy, unhygienic, diverts resources to cleaning it up that could be better used elsewhere and it ultimately has a massive effect on the state of the planet.

So imagine if we took away all the bins. What would we do? Would we all just drop litter on the street, or would we think more carefully about what waste we create in the first place and recycle more carefully? Either way, we would undoubtedly end up with an even bigger mess than we have at the moment, simply because there’d be fewer waste disposal facilities. It makes you realise just how integral waste facilities such as bins are to the functioning of our every day lives.

When you consider that 12.5 million tonnes of waste was sent to landfill in 2009/2010, it further hammers home the point about how we dispose of the waste we produce. The amount of waste going to landfill is decreasing steadily, which is great news as it means people are recycling more, but this is still a massive statistic. So, there are lots of reasons why using bins correctly and minimising waste is a really good idea. Here are a few of the best:

1)      Using recycling bins and other facilities reduces the amount of waste going to harmful landfill sites.

2)      The material is then recycled instead of junked, meaning there is less stress on primary resources and we all live in a more sustainable manner.

3)      Disposing of cigarette butts in special bins is tidier and contains the smell to one area.

4)      Using high street bins to throw away rubbish while you’re out stops the streets becoming dirty, which helps to keep down rodent problems.

5)      We throw away proportionately more waste at the office than we do at home, so installing proper recycling bins in your workplace will minimise the impact of this and give you more credibility with your clients.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, but it’s clear just how important this issue is to all of us.

Firstly, it’s important to make sure you’re using the right recycling bin. Often people have different coloured bins for different items of recycling and, increasingly, segmented bins are popping up in shopping centres and other public places, where people are encouraged to recycle plastic, cans and paper in the appropriate bin compartment. This is all well and good, but if someone comes along with half a burger and some leftover chips from a fast food emporium and doesn’t look at which bin is which, there’s a good chance the rubbish will end up in the wrong bin.

This then complicates the recycling process as it takes longer to clean out the inappropriate waste before the recyclable components can be properly processed. This, however, can be easily avoided simply by taking a couple of extra seconds to make sure you’re putting your waste into the right receptacle.

For home use or use in buildings such as offices and schools, it’s a good idea to buy a set of easily identifiable recycling bins that make it obvious what should and shouldn’t be placed in each bin. Particularly in schools, if you’re teaching children about proper waste disposal, it can be a good idea to have images on each bin to make it extra clear what’s what. You can also encourage recycling by putting the regular rubbish bin at a greater distance away from the rest so people will think about recycling before simply trashing the waste.

Another really important waste item you need to be sure goes in the right bin is the cigarette. It’s quite obvious, but you need to be sure these definitely don’t end up in the paper bin as you could end up with a fire hazard on your hands. Cigarette bins should be clearly labelled and accessible to smokers. You should also be sure that batteries don’t end up in the regular waste that goes to landfill as they can leak acid, which is majorly harmful to the environment. Always keep a clearly labelled battery bin specifically for them and recycle them regularly.

Most of this is common sense, but it pays to be aware of the correct procedures for waste disposal to make sure you don’t end up with a calamity on your hands.