Is CaRT's recycling a con?

ONE of the reasons that I moved onto a boat was to be closer to nature, writes Gareth Haines.

Living in a more environmentally conscious way goes hand in hand with this, whether it's being frugal with water, aware of electricity use (both essential as someone who's not plugged into shore power) or being committed to reducing one's waste. It is the latter that is the subject of this article.

Reduces rubbish

I make every possible effort to reduce my rubbish and that begins with what I choose to buy in the first place. Where possible I purchase items without packaging (fruit and veg for example) or with recyclable packaging (most everything else). I separate all my recycling out and will go out of my way to take it to a place it can be disposed of correctly, as a lot of boater's bin locations don't have a recycling facility.

Imagine my excitement when I noticed that there was a recycling facility at Tardebigge Old Wharf, a service that CaRT are obviously quite proud of themselves, judging by the sign on the gate of the bin store (see photo). So, I dutifully recycled all of the waste.

All into the same truck

Then imagine by disappointment and dismay when I watched the bin lorry arrive and tip all the wheelie bins, recycling and general waste, into the same truck! The attached photograph is of the recycling bin being tipped by a Biffa operative, shortly after he tipped two general waste bins. This happened on two separate occasions whilst I was moored opposite the yard, indicating that this is not an isolated occurrence.

I can assure readers, having been a bin man for a number of years, that when a lorry is loaded with general waste it is destined for one place—landfill. The recycling will be going to the some place too, as it is now 'contaminated' with the other rubbish.

Claim ignorance

I sincerely hope that CaRT are not aware of Biffa's mode of operation (ignoring recycling bins and dumping it all in landfill—perhaps to save the time and money required to run another truck) and indeed, I'm sure they can claim ignorance here.