Friday, April 21, 2006

Ill-Litter-ate

Spring has arrived and the town is beginning to prepare for the increasing number of vistors recent tourist initiatives have brought into the area. As part of the Authority's foreshore management the debris from the Spring high tides has been removed from the lower promenade and the beaches have been raked, but the untidy mess strewn across the cliff face between the top and lower promenade still remains despite numerous complaints from both locals and visitors to the town.
Plastic debris - bottles and bags - and aluminium cans are scattered and tangled amongst the vegetation adding to the general deterioration of the cliffside. Whilst it would be tempting to blame this on visitors or uncaring youths the reality of the matter is that the majority of this litter is a direct result of the Authority's recycling programme.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm fully supportive of recycling and do my best to play my part but the methods of collection leave a great deal to be desired. Green boxes for this, blue, white and now orange bags for that, abound. On collection day these inadequate containers appear - brim full and overloaded - on our doorsteps, contents waiting for transportation. And the winds sweep down the Jewel streets blowing the contents along with them onto the banks. Surely there must be a better way to recycle than this!

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