Why bother about waste?

The amount of rubbish we throw away is increasing as:

• New packaging materials and technology are being developed
• Lifestyles are changing, for example, greater reliance on fast and convenience food
• We experience increasing pressure and influence to buy more
• The population is increasing.

The amount is projected to double in 20 years - and we are running out of holes in the ground to dump it.

In the year 2000, 25.1 million tonnes of waste was collected from households for landfill.

About two-thirds of this was biodegradable and could be composted.

But, when instead it rots down in the dump, smelly methane gas is produced.

This is an explosive greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

And that's not all that happens in the dump.

Soluble chemicals dissolve in rain and surface water forming a toxic stream. When this trickles out into the environment it is often difficult and expensive to fix the damage, and the effects can remain for decades.

Because we're running out of dumping sites, rubbish has to be transported over longer and longer distances. In Powys alone dust carts travel 3 million miles a year, consuming one litre of fuel every mile.

What is happening to your waste at present?

Nationally:

• 9% is incinerated
• 13% is recycled/composted
• 77% is landfilled

So instead of creating problems, why not reduce the amount of waste going into landfill in the first place?

The three-step method to cut waste

1. Reduce the amount we consume - buy less, and choose products with less packaging
2. Repair, pass on or re-use what we do consume
3. Recycle what cannot be re-used.

Sending it to landfill should be the last resort.