We must learn to move mountains

Dec 17 2007 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

We must learn to move mountains

The worst waste offenders

FOR many of us, the great crusade against waste and pollution is remote. It is difficult to link the shrinkage in rain-forests and ice caps to our own lives. Maybe we are more concerned about litter on the streets.

But it is estimated that England and Wales produces 100m tonnes of waste a year, excluding construction and demolition waste.

The North West has the largest output of household waste per capita, with people and businesses creating about 24m tonnes a year.

Liverpool featured in a recent survey conducted nationally for the Saab motor company. Listed below are five ways in which people were being wasteful.

1. Using transport when walking is an option – 36% of people in Liverpool admit to this.

2. Being wasteful about energy consumption in the home – 33% of Liverpudlians admit they should keep a closer watch.

3. Boiling a kettle full of water when making just one cuppa (32%).

4. Cleaning with non-environmentally-friendly products (27%).

5. 20% of people in Liverpool own up to never recycling.

The survey concluded that the majority of Liverpudlians (61%) are choosing to be greener out of concern for future generations.

But a more fickle 9% are motivated by social image and the desire to look good in front of their peers, and only 8% are choosing to be more environmentally-conscious as a result of government action.