Report U3A Monthly Meeting May 2011
Before chair Hilary Workman welcomed Sue Reeve from the Cornwall Council to talk about “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” she gave out the notices.
The first was - anyone wishing to go to the ‘Trerice’ 50th anniversary celebrations in September should sign their names on the sheet at the back of the hall. The second was to draw their attention to the next Stratton Hospital Lecture at the Parkhouse centre on Friday 27th May, the title was “Ageing, the Great Adventure,” the speaker George Giarchi, eminent professor from Plymouth university. Lastly she reminded members that the next meeting would take the form of a summer picnic (weather permitting!) at the Grade 1 listed Gildhall at Poundstock after the guided tour with Sandy Dingle.
Sue Reeve did not need to give a lecture on ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ she said, as it was not a new subject. However, she would explain the changes that were to be made and would answer any questions on the subject. There was only one landfill site in Cornwall – at Liskeard, that was receiving 1000 tonnes of rubbish per day! And, not surprisingly, within 5 years it would be full. Once closed the site would have to be monitored for at least 25 years for the methane gas which would come off ad infinitum. The waste would then have to be sent, perhaps to Sweden or be incinerated, which would be very much cheaper. Reducing, reusing and recycling was one way to cut down the waste. Sue explained that a considerable amount of waste was sent to different countries, and to places in Briton to be recycled, as was anything taken to the tip. Top quality green glass was sent to a firm at Falmouth who sent it on to Portugal. Paper was sent to a firm in Kent and was recycled into newsprint. It was said it takes two weeks before it came back as a daily newspaper! but the cost per tonne was very expensive and taxes have to be paid. Cornwall Council could not afford to set up the machinery or equipment for a site to deal with all the rubbish and recycling, however, it is hoping to build an incinerator in Cornwall which would save a vast amount of money.
Sue said there would be changes with the collection in the near future. Lined food buckets would be issued and collected once a week along with the recycling bags. Garden rubbish would be collected once a fortnight. Many pertinent questions were asked from the floor and members left, having gained new insight to the subject of ‘Rubbish’ and what is done with it due to Sue’s knowledge and the humorous way she approached the subject.
Lucille
|
