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New Bill designed to ban export of plastic waste

When we throw away our waste materials, few of us in Sandy know or possibly even wonder where this waste will end up. Many often believe that if it goes into the recycling bin, it will be recycled and therefore they will be doing their bit for the good of the environment. Unfortunately, a good deal of the plastic waste from Sandy often ends up in developing countries.

China had already determined back in July 2017 to stop the import of twenty four kinds of solid waste from foreign countries. Solid wastes including plastics, paper products, and textiles, etc. The new policy was implemented on January 1, 2018, and banned the imports of those types of waste.

But now exporting polluting plastic waste to developing countries around the globe will be banned or restricted under a new law that is currently being discussed in the United Kingdom Parliament.

The Bill will be aimed at protecting some poorer countries against becoming the dumping ground for unwanted rubbish from more developed or powerful countries. This will affect people living in Sandy and at Sandy Skip Hire we are following the bill closely.

Some recent data shows that approximately 356,233 tonnes of plastic waste was sent for recycling from the United Kingdom alone to other developing countries in 2018, so there is a chance that the contents of your recycling bin are not even being recycled in this country or even at all.

Rivers and oceans suffer from this pollution

The plastic we export will often end up dumped in the waterways of these countries and thus may also end up in the ocean. This has resulted in many developing countries sending back waste to the countries that sent it to them in the first place.

The new Bill to protect the environment also rules that companies producing packaging must take more responsibility for the products and materials that they put out on the market.

Many environmentalists argue that the bill should also include stricter measures to reduce the amount of plastic that is being produced in the first place.

Bills such as this have been a long time coming but must surely be welcomed and embraced if we are to protect our environment for future generations.

There is also a proposal within the Bill for long term legal targets to support nature in the wild and improve the quality of air and water.

But will this Bill make any difference?

Environmental groups and campaigners have welcomed the bill but stated that, in some ways, it still leaves environmental protection considerably weaker than it was under the European Union. Others argue that as this plastic waste is such a concern, why after forty seven years of EU membership, is it such an issue if the EU controls were more powerful than the proposed Bill.

Many are particularly concerned about the role of a proposed new independent environmental watchdog that will replace the over seeing power of the EU and hold ministers to account for their policies after the United Kingdopm has left the EU.

The European Union can threaten to fine nations that fail to adhere to environmental laws, that threat forced the United Kingdom to tackle air pollution more seriously.

The newly formed Office of Environmental Protection will not have the power to fine the government. In fact, its members will be appointed by ministers, so how can it be truly independent.

To counter these criticisms, the government has stated that it will still hold its ministers to account, including on the business of the United Kingdom meeting its 2050 net zero greenhouse gas emissions target. The United Kingdom has become the first major economy to pass net zero emission laws. Hopefully more countries will follow suit.

Interestingly, most of the points and sections in the draft legislation were unveiled before the general election, another reason why the more skeptical have claimed it was merely a vote winning ploy.

The revised bill introduces the promise of a two yearly review of significant developments in international environmental legislation to ensure the United Kingdom keeps up with its environmental protection policies.

Is the Bill good news for wildlife in Sandy?

The bill will support the governments twenty five year plan to improve the state of the environment and nature by demanding that developers show they will actively improve conditions for native and visiting wildlife.

Again, the critics say this may prove an empty promise unless the current balance of power between developers and local councils is shifted away from the developers, as they appear to hold all the cards at the moment.

The Bill also includes steps to give communities a much greater say in the protection of their local trees. There have been many heated debates recently over tree felling policies and campaigns up and down the country.

There will be a far more consistent approach to recycling in England. This is to put an end to the hit and miss problem on waste collections and recycling that is currently a major problem for many residents in the United Kingdom.

What about the single use plastic products we use in Sandy and the waste they create?

There will also be powers to create a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and a mechanism for introducing a levy on single use plastics that could be applied to takeaway cutlery. The critics say this will not go far enough, as single use plastic cutlery should simply be banned and replaced with eco friendly products made from materials such as bamboo which is plentiful and fast growing.

When you consider that we are facing climate change and our natural environment is under greater threat than ever before, we really all need to be taking firm action now.

The Bill also promises that the environment will be at the heart of all government policy making, although critics are challenging this statement in light of the fact that how that ministers have said that they plan to spend £28.8bn on the road network. They argue that this development of the road network will simply encourage more fossil fuel burning vehicles on those roads, rather than reducing them.

Although many environmentalist groups welcome a good deal of this bill, many are concerned about the Office for Environmental Protection not being made up of independent staff, separate from the whims or control of the ministers who will appoint them under the current proposals. They go further to argue that it needs a guarantee of multi year funding and it needs complete organisational independence from the governments current environment department.

How effective will this ban be?

Some groups argue that banning plastic waste export to developing countries will not solve the problem as non developing countries such as Turkey and Poland both have very badly regulated dumps receiving plastic and other waste from the United Kingdom.

Many environmental groups also worry that the Bill will not guarantee that the current European Union environment standards will be upheld or built upon following the United Kingdoms exit from the Union.

The groups went on to claim that whilst they welcomed the Bill in theory, it offers no real legal guarantee to raise environmental standards in line with other nations in the future. The world is changing, so are our habits and we need to ensure that we can evolve rather than just standing still, any Parliamentary Bill must also evolve in line with us too.

So although we recycle most of the waste we throw away, we cannot guarantee where it will end up, but hopefully this Bill will go some way to safe guarding our environment for our future.

Hoarding costs you money

Many hoarding behaviours can be put down to past experiences the individual has gone through. This may be periods of abject poverty, that makes them feel the need to hoard items just in case they could be used to good effect at a later stage. It is now thought that hoarding can adversely affect your finances. This may sound like a strange statement to make, but a bad financial situation is something we all want to avoid.

Time to have a good clearout

We've all been there. Our house has become a little cluttered and we feel the need to have a good tidy up. Many refer to it as a spring clean, but any time of year is a good time to de-clutter our living space. Having a good tidy up not only clears your house, it will help to clear your mind too. Research has shown that living in a cluttered environment can even have adverse effects on a person's sleep.

Fly tipping: what's the problem in Sandy?

Illegal dumping is the proper name for fly tipping and it is typically distinguished from littering because of the type and amount of material left and the way in which it is disposed of. Fly tipping has always been a problem in Sandy and indeed all over Bedfordshire.

The waste consequences of Covid

In an age where we are constantly looking for ways to cut down on our waste, it seems strange that so much extra waste has been created by the covid pandemic. The vast majority of this is made from plastic, so surely it could be recycled, but when one considers what it has been used for, it renders it potentially hazardous waste.

The problems with waste disposal in Sandy

How many times have we looked at all the waste materials we have accumulated and despaired at the arduous prospect of sorting it into various types of waste to dispose of at the local tip? This once simple task has now become a major headache for many as the restrictions on what we can dispose of in landfill has increased so much in recent times.

Plastic pollution around the globe

Plastic pollution is now one of the biggest environmental concerns we have to face. You may feel that large amounts of plastic waste are unavoidable in the world we live in, but you and your family can help with the plastic pollution issue by being aware of its dangers and taking the necessary steps to reduce your plastic waste.

Carbon emissions and the environment

An awful lot has been said over the years about the damage we are doing to our environment with the carbon emissions and waste we produce. Some dispute the possibility that we are damaging our planet beyond repair, while others state quite clearly that we have very little time to change our ways and that time is running out.

How the five R's can dramatically improve our environment in Sandy?

We have all heard of recycling our waste materials and for many years, some councils have provided special recycling bins to help residents avoid putting too much waste into landfill. But recycling is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to helping keep our environment healthy in Sandy.

Recycle or incinerate! What is the best solution for our waste materials in Sandy?

We are constantly being encouraged to recycle our waste materials and not putting them into landfill. However, there appears to be an emerging trend for incineration of waste in many areas, but is this a good or bad step?

Single use plastic products in Sandy

Here at Sandy Skip Hire we always recycle as much of your waste as possible, however, there is always more that can be done to improve the environment that we all need to survive.

A guide to what can and cannot go into a hired skip

At Sandy Skip Hire we are frequently asked what waste materials can be placed into the hired skips we supply. So we thought it would be a good idea to offer a quick guide as to what is and is not acceptable.

Recycling your waste materials in Sandy

Recycling is something most of us do now to some degree. Some do it more than others, but we mostly appreciate that it is an important part of our daily lives. It is more important to recycle waste in order to conserve resources and maintain a healthy environment than ever before. The question is, are we really doing everything possible when it comes to recycling our waste materials? The achances are that many of us are probably not doing all we can. So here are a few tips to help you recycle properly.

The problem with plastic pollution in Bedfordshire

Waste reduction in Bedfordshire

The country is now committed to reducing the amount of waste and the government have set targets for waste reduction. A new plan for cutting waste was published back in 2007 that aimed for at least 40 per cent of household waste to be recycled or composted by 2010, this rose to 50 per cent by 2020.

Plastic waste from the United Kingdom may be sent overseas instead of recycled

Massive amounts of packaging waste is being sent overseas to be recycled and turned into new products. However, concerns have been raised that in reality a good deal of it is being dumped in landfill sites in countries that we have no agreement with.

Just how recyclable is the plastic we use in Sandy Skip Hire

We all know that plastic is recyclable, so as long as we put it in the correct bin it will be made into something else useful. Sadly this is a myth that all too many people believe, the painful truth is quite the opposite. We have all seen the triangular set of chasing arrows logo on plastic products and seem to automatically assume that it denotes that the product is recyclable.

What happens to all the plastic we throw out

Just where would we be without plastic? The production of plastic has exploded over the last fifty or so years, growing from 16.5 million tons in 1964 to 343 million tons in 2014; it is expected to double by 2036. The question is, where does all of this plastic go when people in Bedfordshire throw it away?

Fly tipping: A modern day curse

Fly tipping is simply another term used to describe illegal dumping of all manner of waste material, it is also called fly dumping. Whatever term is used, it is the dumping of waste illegally instead of using an authorised method such as kerbside collection or using an authorised rubbish dump. It is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land, including waste dumped or tipped on a site with no licence to accept waste.

Recycled plastic for roads and pavements

Plastic use in road and pavement construction is not exactly a new concept, but it does appear to be increasing. Using plastic waste to make plastic roads is definitely on the upward trend. Plastic roads mainly use plastic carrier bags, disposable cups and PET bottles that are collected from landfill sites prior to burial and are a vital part of this construction material.

Seaweed sachets offer an alternative to plastic

Indonesia has a wealth of naturally growing seaweed that can make an edible, water permeable film that can be used in sachets that hold tea, coffee, and hot cocoa as well as a whole host of other useful daily consumable products.

The increasing problem of plastics in our oceans

The amount of plastic in the oceans of the world is predicted to treble in the next ten years unless affirmative action is taken to deal with the problem, according to a new report just published.

Plastic pollution in the ocean starts from the rivers

A scary statistic is that more than eight million tons of waste plastic ends up in the ocean every single year. If we continue to pollute our oceans at this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 and it can take many years to break down if at all, not to mention the toxins it leaches in the process.

Ways to reduce your plastic waste

Plastic is a great product in so many ways, but the environmental impact it can have is enormous, particularly when it comes to the single use plastic products we seem to uses on a daily basis in our throw away society. Can we as private individuals do to cut down our personal plastic usage?

Plastic microbeads are a load of rubbish

Would you like to fill your mouth with plastic, or cover other parts of your anatomy with it on a regular basis? The answer would most likely be a resounding no, but we are already doing just that.

Waste plastic from the UK is polluting the globe

Literally thousands of tons of plastic scrap collected for recycling from British households have been transported and dumped on sites across the world. This shocking revelation was revealed from a recent freedom of information request.

Hiring a skip from Sandy Skip Hire rather than using the local dump

Have you got a load of rubbish to dump? Is it better to hire a skip or use the local dump? Do you need a permit for having a skip? Can anyone apply for a permit? Here are a few answers which could help you when hiring a skip from Sandy Skip Hire

Hire a skip from Sandy Skip Hire for your garden waste

No matter what the season, a medium sized Bedfordshire garden can generate a massive amount of waste materials. The winter will leave a lot of dead leaves and twiggs from nearby trees to clear up, and when the warmer months hit, the waste is generated on a weekly basis as things grow rapidly.

Get a skip and avoid fly tipping in Bedfordshire

Not only does fly tipping blight the Bedfordshire countryside around us, it can have a devastating effect on the wildlife that we co-exist with. Then of course there is the eye watering cost of clearing up the mess that inconsiderate people have created. We all pay the price for this ecologically unsound practice through increased council tax bills from our councils. This could all be avoided if everyone disposed of their waste in the correct manner and hiring a skip is probably the best way to go about this, particularly if you have a large amount of waste to dispose of.

Some facts about waste and recycling from Sandy Skip Hire

The United Kingdom produces over 100 million tonnes of waste every single year. If you consider that one tonne is about the weight of a small car, it is easy to see how it mounts up. In less than two hours, the waste we produce would fill the Albert Hall.

Hire a skip instead of going to your local Bedfordshire tip

Using a local Bedfordshire tip is not the same as it was a few years ago. These days everything has to go in the correct hopper, it cannot all go in the same one any longer. This means you have to know what goes where in order to segregate all the rubbish at home.

Hire a skip from Sandy Skip Hire for your soil and mud

A Bedfordshire client recently hired one of our skips as they just could not believe how much earth they had to get rid of when they dug out a pond in their back garden. Our client had intended to build up their flower beds and other low spots of their garden with the excavated earth. They never thought they would need to get rid of any earth at all.

Useful information about skip hire in Bedfordshire

The one question we get asked the most at Sandy Skip Hire is what size skip the customer will need. We always suggest that you think about what you need to dispose of and remember that two skips can be far more expensive than one larger skip. Skips are measured by the yard and range from 3 yard mini skips to roll-on roll-off containers more suitable for higher volume waste requirements.

Hire a skip from Sandy Skip Hire to save you time effort and money

Hiring a skip from Sandy Skip Hire is without a doubt the best way to get rid of all your waste materials! It is convenient, quick, easy and saves you a huge amount of work. Generally speaking, we only get a couple of days a week away from work, and when you end up ferrying your household waste back and forth from the local tip, your weekend soon gets swallowed up.

The benefits of skip hire from Sandy Skip Hire in Bedfordshire

Having a good clear out of the garden shed or garage produces way more rubbish than you ever imagined possible. Decorating preparation can also produce a good deal of waste, such as old skirting boards and stripped wood chip paper that his been up since the war, so a skip is a great way to dispose of the waste.

Further Information

If you would like to know more or are interested in a quote we would be happy to help. Phone us on 0800 169 8588, email us at info@stevenageskiphire.co.uk or fill in our enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Stevenage Skip Hire Ltd - Envirowaste Recycling Centre - Jacks Hill - Graveley - Herts SG4 7EQ

Stevenage Skip Hire Ltd
Envirowaste Recycling Centre
Jacks Hill
Graveley
Herts SG4 7EQ

Articles :: Areas covered list :: Website map

Articles
Hoarding costs you money
Time to have a good clearout
Fly tipping: what's the problem in Sandy?
The waste consequences of Covid
New Bill designed to ban export of plastic waste
The problems with waste disposal in Sandy
Plastic pollution around the globe
Carbon emissions and the environment
How the five R's can dramatically improve our environment in Sandy?
Recycle or incinerate! What is the best solution for our waste materials in Sandy?
Single use plastic products in Sandy
A guide to what can and cannot go into a hired skip
Recycling your waste materials in Sandy
The problem with plastic pollution in Bedfordshire
Waste reduction in Bedfordshire
Plastic waste from the United Kingdom may be sent overseas instead of recycled
Just how recyclable is the plastic we use in Sandy Skip Hire
What happens to all the plastic we throw out
Fly tipping: A modern day curse
Recycled plastic for roads and pavements
Seaweed sachets offer an alternative to plastic
The increasing problem of plastics in our oceans
Plastic pollution in the ocean starts from the rivers
Ways to reduce your plastic waste
Plastic microbeads are a load of rubbish
Waste plastic from the UK is polluting the globe
Hiring a skip from Sandy Skip Hire rather than using the local dump
Hire a skip from Sandy Skip Hire for your garden waste
Get a skip and avoid fly tipping in Bedfordshire
Some facts about waste and recycling from Sandy Skip Hire
Hire a skip instead of going to your local Bedfordshire tip
Hire a skip from Sandy Skip Hire for your soil and mud
Useful information about skip hire in Bedfordshire
Hire a skip from Sandy Skip Hire to save you time effort and money
The benefits of skip hire from Sandy Skip Hire in Bedfordshire
Areas covered list
Website map

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New Bill designed to ban export of plastic waste