Enough with the endless plastic rubbish! My bins are overflowing.

Environment National by PriyaBirmingham · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 1 month ago
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Honestly, it drives me mad seeing the amount of single-use plastic that comes through my shops. We try to use compostable cups and offer discounts for reusable ones, but so much of it just ends up in the bin anyway. It’s not just an eyesore, it’s a massive waste of resources that could be used better.

We need to get serious about incentivising reusable packaging across the board. Think deposits on takeaway containers and coffee cups, not just bottles. Make it easy for businesses to participate too, with clear guidelines and support for sourcing alternatives. The current system just feels broken, with all the responsibility landing on consumers and small businesses like mine to sort out a problem created by big manufacturers.

And while we’re at it, can we actually improve recycling infrastructure?

PriyaBirmingham 🏠 Borough Councillor Local

⚖️ The Practical Centre

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Discussion (3)

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I agree that something needs to be done about all this plastic packaging. We send so much home with the kids at school for their packed lunches, even though we try to pack them sustainably.

A deposit scheme for coffee cups and takeaway containers sounds like a good idea. It would make people think twice before just throwing them away and hopefully encourage more businesses to switch to reusable options. It’s the big manufacturers who should be bearing more of the cost, not us small businesses or consumers.
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How would a deposit scheme work for businesses in rural areas like mine in Aberystwyth, where recycling facilities are already limited and it's not always easy to get people to return items to a central location?
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What happens to the small businesses that can't afford the upfront cost of implementing such a system, or the logistical nightmare of managing returns?
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