Rubbish

Last nights Panorama was presented and hosted by Bill Bryson. Author of the Postcards from book series.

He had apparantly come to England for the first time in the early 1980's, in awe of the beauty of our lands fair hills, scenery and the way everything was prime and proper.

His report however how Englands fair hills are no more and that litter is now such a big thing that dirt and grime are everywhere.

His report looked into how the more litter there was, the more crime occured. Clean up the area and crime drops.

Ironically we already have some of the most severe penalties for littering in the whole of Europe so why is there so much litter here?

The report blamed culture and lack of rubbish bins since their removal after during the IRA's blitz of terror. With nowhere to leave your rubbish at a Station or Terminal, people tended to leave it just on the side and someone would come along and clean it up. Over years this has embeded into society to such an extent that during my drive to work yesterday I saw a man driving on the M4 towards London. He was munching on what looked like a McMuffin or something and then casually opened his window and threw the rubbish out. I was mortified. How can people blatenly just throw their rubbish out of a window and onto the floor? Does nobody care anymore?

The law states that any person caught littering is liable to a fixed penalty fine of £75. The sad fact is that very few councils enforce the penalty. I am all for Bill Bryson and pro keep Britain Tidy. Its about time we all looked after the planet and by taking care and respect of our own rubbish and our own property.

Ironically in the documentary, 80% of the rubbish they found on the side of roads, simply disguarded, were cans or bottles. Things that in the past have had a deposit to ensure they were recycled. I urge the government to impose a law to ensure a deposit system is put in place. Not only would it stop people littering such items so much but it would also help other people in the community. In the United States they charge 10 Cents deposit subject to certain States Law. You litterally see homeless people walking around pushing a supermarket Trolley filled with empty drink cans. The homeless person makes some money, the cans are recycled and the litter is removed. Surely everyones a winner?

But unti they do enforce such action, please put your litter in a bin or take it home with you!