Well it has been cold outside ofcourse but had the heating on! Today seemed especially cold.

You mean you'd have put it in the fridge to keep warm? Blimey, it is cold in your kitchen!

I'd gladly do that if we had the choice.  I was furious the other day because for ages now I've been recycling, besides plastic bottles, all plastic packaging, trays, yogurt pots, everything.  This has been taken away by the refuse collectors.  However,  I was wondering about cellophane and foil packaging such as crisps, so I emailed the local council to ask if I could put cellophane etc. in the plastics bin and I got this reply :- 

"Thank you for your enquiry.

1.         At present we only recycle plastic bottles in the Green Boxes because this is the only type of plastic that can be taken to the reprocessing plant. Unfortunately we cannot recycle plastic margarine tubs, ice cream tubs, yoghurt pots, plastic packaging and other plastic containers which have to be thrown in the grey bin. 

In order to reduce the environmental impact of our operations we use local reprocessors for all our recyclable material and unfortunately there is currently nowhere in Lancashire or the North West that can accept the other types of plastic material mentioned above. We are continuing to look at options to increase the materials we recycle as part of our service and currently advise all residents to minimise their waste by purchasing fresh fruit & vegetables, meat items etc which use less plastic packaging and encourage home composting. 

2.         Lancashire County Council are responsible for distributing the free home composting kits. The free composting hotline number is 0800 107 3798. "


So....the refuse collectors haven't been checking the boxes and have been taking all that extra stuff I've been putting in, which they shouldn't have.   When you bear in mind that I am only allowed one grey bin that has a fortnightly collection, it is soon full and now I shall have to put all those other plastics in it again.  You have to be a family of 5 in this area to qualify for two grey bins.

I've a mind to carry on what I was doing because otherwise I have to make trips to the tip myself.  They can sort the plastics out the other end.  If they get enough, then surely they'll think of a way to recycle them?

It's idiotic if you ask me. 

I'd love to go back to milk deliveries.   I'd love to go back to horses and carts.  I hate cars.  I'd love to grow my own veg and be totally self-supporting for food.  I'd love to exchange stuff and do away with money.  I'd love an Aga or a Rayburn.  I'd love to have a completely solar-powered house.

Ah well.

Don't you have a milk delivery? I do.

My brother has recently had solar panels (or whatever they do these days) put on his house. I haven't, but I have thought about it.

Pea-Dubya - presumably you mean via the doorstep collections, as opposed to the recycling centres? To be honest, I've been putting out some plastics (not much) in the general recycling bins, but haven't had knuckles rapped yet...

In the bit of Wales I frequent a lot (Ceredigion), every town seems to have a comprehensive, brilliantly-organised and spotless recycling centre where you can sort and deposit refuse with an entirely clear conscience.

Jeez. You'd think that Brighton, of all places in this country, would have sorted itself out in this department. As I say, Wales seems to be light years ahead. 

Oh, come on Milly! Surely if you were serious you wouldn't be using so much electricity on washing machines and the tumble-dryer? Imagine how sunny it would have to be and how many panels you'd have to install to power those, let alone a heated swimming pool! I should imagine that people who are really eco-friendly are extremely frugal with the power they use.