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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'World's dirtiest tourist attraction' is litter-strewn mess with strange odour
Batu Caves, located just outside of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, are sacred for Hindus across the world, but also have issues with cheeky monkeys and piles of rubbish A sacred tourist spot has become overrun by monkeys and plagued by litter. Batu Caves, located just outside of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, took first place in a recent study of the world's most littered tourist attraction, with 1.67% of reviews mentioning rubbish out of a total 13,950 reviews. The huge cave complex is one of Malaysia's most iconic tourist destinations and has particular religious significance due to its Hindu temple complex dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu God of war. The limestone caves themselves are more than 400 million years old, while the temple at their heart was built in 1920. Hindus from all over have come together during festivals to celebrate and pray as a community in the Batu Caves, where magnificently built shrines and statues are strikingly set against a captivating background of limestone hills. Unfortunately, several factors have chipped away at the beauty of the unique attraction. The site's litter issue has often been attributed to its popularity with milions of annual visitors, many of whom discard rubbish and often feed the resident monkeys. The large size and complex nature of the site also make it difficult to maintain. Following a recent visit to the Caves, a man from Burnley wrote: "The whole area surrounding the shrine was filthy and covered with litter, discarded food, refuse bins overflowing with plastics etc, used face masks and litter in general. "If this is a sacred shrine, I find it difficult to understand why those responsible for its upkeep allow it to be abused in this way. Entry to the sacred shrines requires visitors to remove shoes, but having seen the filthy state the floors were surrounding these areas, there was no way my wife nor I would risk doing so. "I appreciate that the matter was exacerbated by the presence of monkeys at the caves that scavenge for food, but surely those responsible for health and safety should introduce a programme of cleaning throughout the day to ensure all litter etc is removed." A holidaymaker from Essex added: "The area is strewn with rubbish and very stinky. It needs a good clean-up." Mark Hall, general waste expert at which conducted the study, said: "It is concerning to see so many reviews mentioning litter at iconic tourist attractions around the world. Many of these sites have religious, spiritual, or historic importance, so it's vital that travellers treat them with respect. Sadly, overtourism is now a huge issue in many countries and this often brings the issue of litter. 'When tourists visit in such vast numbers, it can be difficult for the operators of tourist attractions to manage waste. Therefore, it's vital that travellers are mindful of the impact of their own waste. You should never litter, and if a bin isn't available or is full, always take litter home with you to dispose of properly. That way, we can ensure that these sites remain preserved and enjoyable for years to come.'
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Why you should never bin disposable vapes and how it could cost you £600
The selling of disposable vapes is to be completely banned both in store and online in the UK from June 1. In a bid to protect the environment and deter young people and kids from vaping, the colourful throwaway nicotine sticks are to be stripped from the shelves. The unsafe disposing of vape products is linked to more than 11 fires per week, and harmful chemicals inside the devices are polluting the country's rivers and streams. According to research, only 17 per cent of people dispose of their vapes correctly. While the new ban is designed to deter vape use, reports suggest that many people are either stockpiling disposable vapes or switching to reusable models, meaning the problems associated with binning old vapes is likely to persist in some manner at least. With this in mind, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEE) experts at are warning the public about the dangers of binning old vapes, which they say could even result in a £600 fine if you're not careful. Graham Matthews of said: 'The ban on disposable vapes is certainly a step in the right direction. However, it's concerning to see it hasn't had the desired effect with many people simply stockpiling or switching to reusable models. "While a reusable vape is still the preferred option, the lack of education surrounding correct disposal means we're likely to see vape-related bin and waste fires continue." So, why shouldn't you bin vapes, and how can you safely dispose of them? Here's what the experts had to say. Why shouldn't you bin vapes? Many people mistakenly believe that vapes can be tossed into their regular bin at home, but they're actually classed as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), which has strict rules for disposal. When vapes are disposed of in household bins, this can lead to fires in bin lorries and at waste management sites, which puts workers and the public at risk. Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and ignite when damaged or crushed. If vapes enter bin lorries or waste management facilities, they're at risk of catching fire. Data shows that vape-related fires are on the rise in the UK, with a huge surge of 348 per cent between 2020 and 2025. Any vapes that end up in landfill can also leach battery acid, nicotine, and chemicals from the plastic into the environment, causing further damage. Can you be fined for putting a vape in household waste? WEEE waste is classed as hazardous or controlled waste that must be disposed of separately from usual waste to prevent environmental harm. And you can be fined up to £600 if you breach your household waste duty of care. It could also void your home insurance if vapes in your household bin cause a fire, as this could be classed as negligence, explained the WEEE experts. How to waste disposable vapes correctly The safest and easiest way to waste a disposable vape is to put it in a dedicated vape disposal bin, which can be found in many shops and supermarkets, or return it to a retailer. Many electrical and electronic shops accept used disposable vapes and will ensure they're recycled. If you can easily remove the battery, then you could separate it and take it to a local battery recycling point which can also be found in many shops and supermarkets. However, the way disposable vapes are made means it's difficult to separate the battery and materials in many single-use vapes, and disposing of them through the proper channels is advised.
Glasgow Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Brits face £600 bin fine ahead of upcoming law change
After the ban, experts are warning the public about the dangers of disposing of old vapes. The ban is designed to deter vape use, but reports show that many people are either stockpiling disposable vapes or switching to reusable models, meaning the problem of binning old vapes is likely to persist. WEEE waste experts at say it doesn't appear that the ban is effectively deterring people from vaping completely. Only 17% of people dispose of their vapes correctly. From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply all single-use vapes. The ban includes all 'disposable' vapes which are not refillable and use a battery which cannot be recharged. This applies to sales online and in shops. Visit — Monmouthshire / Sir Fynwy (@MonmouthshireCC) May 17, 2025 Many people mistakenly believe that vapes can be tossed into their regular bin at home. However, they're actually classed as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), which has strict rules for disposal. When vapes are disposed of in household bins, this can lead to fires in bin trucks and at waste management sites, posing a huge risk to workers and the public. Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and ignite when damaged or crushed. If vapes enter bin lorries or waste management facilities, this is a common occurrence as waste is compressed. WEEE waste is classed as hazardous or controlled waste that must be disposed of separately to prevent environmental harm. Therefore, you can be fined up to £600 if you breach your household waste duty of care. Recommended reading: Graham Matthews, WEEE expert at said: 'The ban on disposable vapes is certainly a step in the right direction. However, it's concerning to see it hasn't had the desired effect with many people simply stockpiling or switching to reusable models. "While a reusable vape is still the preferred option, the lack of education surrounding correct disposal means we're likely to see vape-related bin and waste fires continue. 'Vaping is a habit that many will find hard to quit, or are reluctant to attempt, so a better alternative is to focus on educating the public about the risk of improper disposal. With vapes technically classed as WEEE, we would encourage councils to crack down on people placing these in general waste and step up the issuing of fines as a deterrent.'
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
This 35p 'science-driven' hack will stop your fruit and vegetables going off
It's estimated that UK households throw out £250 worth of food per person each year. Not only is this an unnecessary cost for shoppers who are already struggling amidst the cost of living crisis, experts believe it's also a huge contributor to global warming. Ahead of Stop Food Waste Day on April 30, professionals at have told how a 35p common household product could extend the life of your fruit and vegetables. Washing your fruit and vegetables in a white vinegar mix can reportedly extend their shelf life and save you money along the way. Mixing one part white vinegar to six parts water will create the perfect mixture. When fruit and vegetables decay, it's due to enzymes that break down the cells of the produce. These enzymes are greatly affected by both pH and temperature. Most food-spoilage organisms struggle to survive in environments with a pH below 4.0, and this mixture has a pH of around 3.0. Therefore, the majority of the microbes will die off, and enzyme activity will be reduced greatly due to the combined effects of the acidity and storing the produce in cold temperatures in the fridge . Food waste expert Graham Matthews said: "Understanding the science behind food spoilage can be key to helping to reduce it. "When we understand how spoilage affects different products and why, we can choose to make smarter choices when it comes to storing our food. "Simple hacks like rinsing in vinegar, freezing, or pickling are all easy preservation methods that can have a huge impact on reducing food waste in the home.' To help preserve your produce, householders are advised to put their fruit and vegetables into the mixture for around five minutes, then remove and leave to dry on a paper towel. The fruit or vegetables should then be put back into a clean container, with a paper towel lining the bottom, and stored in your fridge. As long as the mixture is diluted as instructed and you dry your produce, the method shouldn't affect the taste of your fruit and vegetables either. Follow these other hacks to extend the life of your food
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Being an annoying neighbour could see you slapped with £400 fine over little-known rule
It's a nightmare when your outdoor bin is full before collection day. There's always the temptation to walk a little ways down the road and sling your bursting bin bags into your unsuspecting neighbour's bin, but you should be careful before doing so. London waste management experts have issued a warning over using your neighbour's bin. Using your neighbour's bin is actually deemed to be a form of antisocial behaviour that might be considered fly-tipping, so in short, no, you can't. 'Bin stuffing' is an offence that not many are aware of and can lead to massive fines. READ MORE: Martin Lewis responds to worries cash ISA limit could be reduced to £4,000 READ MORE: Rachel Reeves breaks silence on cash ISA '£4,000 limit' reports The thinking behind this that it can lead to serious inconveniences for your neighbour. Even a small bag of rubbish thrown in another person's bin can lead to unnecessary tension and a logistical headache for the bin owner. The local authorities decide on the level of fines from minor flytipping cases like bin stuffing. The penalty often ranges from £150 to £400, depending on the severity of the offence and local council rules. Failing to pay the fine could me you get taken to court and the fine is increased. Further escalation could even land you with a criminal record, debt recovery that impacts your credit score or even imprisonment. Though it seems unlikely you will be fined for this, it does happen. In December 2024, a Birmingham resident was fined £1,000 for the offence, The Mirror reported. Being the victim of bin stuffing can be a real nuisance. To avoid this happening, if possible, move your bin to a more secure and difficult location to access. If this fails, consider speaking to the neighbour and explaining the trouble its causing you. Beyond this it might be necessary to take further action. Many local councils provide guidance and can offer solutions, including locking your bin or marking it clearly to deter misuse. If all else fails, contact your local council to file a formal complaint, providing evidence where possible. Mark Hall, waste collection expert at BusinessWaste, says: 'Good neighbourly relations are built on respect and understanding. Handling waste properly is not just a matter of legal obligation; it's also a significant component of living harmoniously in close quarters. 'Ensuring that each household takes responsibility for their own waste is key to maintaining not only cleanliness and order, but also a pleasant environment for everyone in the community.' Get the top stories from across London directly to your inbox. Sign up for MyLondon's The 12 HERE to get the biggest stories every day
