Latest news with #wasteManagement
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council's big bin service to be permanent - but warnings of longer waits
A scheme to hire extra large bins will become a permanent fixture - but residents may have to wait longer if it takes off. West Lindsey residents can hire bins that are around three times the size of a typical wheelie bin for £50, or six times the size for £60. The Big Bin Clear Out scheme has proved very popular during its initial trial, with more than 450 being requested, and councillors said it would be "madness" not to make it a permanent fixture. However, the current seven-day wait could be increased to keep costs low if demand continues to grow. West Lindsey District Council's Prosperous Communities Committee voted unanimously to continue the scheme. READ MORE: Rescue owner warns of 'pandemic of unwanted dogs' as puppies found dumped in box READ MORE: Nine times the size of Skegness - the full scale of solar farm plans for Lincolnshire Alan Bowley, the Interim Director of Operations and Commercial Services, said, 'So far, we have kept the scheme low-key because it was a pilot. We will monitor the service's growth. "To mitigate costs, we may have to look at arrangements for booking. Currently, there is no wait more than seven days. If demand keeps getting higher, we might have to stretch that so it doesn't incur extra costs.' Councillor Lesley Rollings (Lib Dem) said: 'This has proved very successful with residents. It's exactly what's needed when people are moving house and don't want a big skip.' Councillor Roger Patterson (Con) said: 'The figures speak for themselves - it's working and I hope it will be highly successful. It would be madness not to continue.' The big bins are suitable for a variety of household waste, including wood, plastic items, artificial Christmas trees and shelving, with a full list available on the council's website. Mattresses, electrical items and any commercial waste are not accepted. Figures show that Gainsborough was by far the place where the bins were in most demand, possibly due to fewer people having access to cars to travel to tips. Bookings should be made through the council website.
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Something stinks in Philadelphia – and it's not just the uncollected garbage
If nobody stopped me, I could talk about urban sanitation for hours on end. Unfortunately, somebody (normally my wife) always stops me – usually in the first minute or two. It seems few people share my pathological fixation with littering and ways to optimise waste management. Until recently, that is. Now every single resident of Philadelphia, my home town, is talking trash. Almost 10,000 city workers, members of the city's largest blue-collar union, went on strike for eight days, affecting everything from libraries to public swimming pools. But the most visible signs of the strike were the huge piles of trash that accumulated (nicknamed 'Parker Piles' after mayor Cherelle Parker) because there was no garbage pickup. Did I mention it has been boiling hot? You can imagine the situation. The rats are in heaven; I am in hell. Early on Wednesday, a deal was finally done. The trash is still there, however. While I have been a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, it seems the stinky trash piles did exactly what they were meant to do: remind everyone that the people who keep society running are underpaid and overworked. The world had a brief moment of appreciation for essential workers during the pandemic, but, after everyone finished their nightly clapping, nothing changed, did it? The rich just got richer. The strike started because the mayor said there wasn't enough money in the city's budget to give the union what it wanted, which was better benefits and a 5% wage increase a year for three years. (The union has accepted a three-year deal that will represent a 14% pay increase for members over the four years of Parker's term; the agreement is still to be ratified.) Sanitation workers in Philadelphia make $39,000 to $42,000 (£29,000 to £31,000) a year. I am obviously no expert in the city's budget, but it's funny what there was money for before the strike. There was a cool $877m (£645m) for the Philadelphia police department. Which, by the way, is spending $1.3m on a new uniform that is a slightly darker shade of blue. There was enough money to pay Parker the same sort of salary (about $270,000) as the mayor of the significantly larger New York City. There was enough money, according to analysis by the Philadelphia Inquirer last year, for 16 of Parker's closest cabinet members to collectively earn $3.5m – $1m more than their peers earned under the previous mayor. 'Don't tell me what you value,' Joe Biden used to say. 'Show me your budget and I'll tell you what you value.' Now that a deal has been done, I hope Philadelphia starts valuing clean streets – because the current situation stinks. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. This article was amended on 9 July 2025 to include details of the pay deal agreed between the mayor of Philadelphia and the public sector workers' union on the morning of 9 July.
Mail & Guardian
09-07-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Microplastics act as ‘rafts', increasing the threat to environmental and public health
African countries, including South Africa, have limited waste infrastructure and uneven water treatment systems, which exacerbates the problem of antibiotic resistance. Photo: Sustainable Seas Trust While antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is commonly linked to the overuse of antibiotics in hospitals and animal farming, an environmental contributor is increasingly coming into focus: microplastics. These small plastic particles, typically less than 5mm in diameter, are increasingly recognised not only as environmental pollutants but also as active vectors in the evolution and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Although the crisis is unfolding worldwide, low- and middle-income countries are especially vulnerable because of limited infrastructure and inadequate waste management systems. A perfect storm for AMR These plastic surfaces create ideal conditions for the formation of microbial communities known as biofilms. Within these clusters, bacteria can exchange genetic material more efficiently, including antimicrobial resistance genes. Moreover, microplastics tend to adsorb antibiotics and heavy metals from their surroundings, increasing the selective pressure that favors resistant bacteria. As a result, microplastics are transforming natural ecosystems into incubators of resistance. And these resistant bacteria do not remain confined. They can spread through water, air, food, and even within the human body. A global crisis with local vulnerabilities According to recent estimates, One illustrative example is the Further south, South Africa presents a particularly telling case. Despite being one of the continent's most developed countries, its waste management infrastructure continues to face serious problems. A 2024 study conducted in Health systems on the front line The African continent bears a high burden of infectious diseases, many of which are still treated with older, widely available antibiotics. If AMR continues to spread unchecked, the consequences will be severe. This includes not only loss of human life but also increased pressure on already fragile healthcare systems. Microplastics are complicating efforts to control resistant infections in ways that are not yet fully understood or reflected in current policies. Environmental reservoirs of resistance are rarely included in surveillance systems, and when they are, microplastics are often overlooked as a contributing factor. Towards sustainable solutions Addressing this complex and interconnected crisis requires action on multiple fronts. First, it is essential to reduce plastic production and improve waste management, especially in urban areas. Policies such as bans on single-use plastics and incentives for recycling can make a meaningful difference, provided they are properly implemented and enforced. Second, environmental monitoring systems should begin to include both microplastics and antimicrobial resistance genes as indicators of ecosystem health. This would allow policymakers to detect hotspots and take action before resistance spreads further. Third, the scientific community must broaden its focus. Although most research on AMR has concentrated on clinical and agricultural settings, the environment must now be recognised as a critical front. This shift requires interdisciplinary collaboration among microbiologists, environmental scientists, engineers, and public health professionals. Encouragingly, several promising innovations are emerging. Nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands, which use plants and microorganisms to clean wastewater, have shown potential to reduce both microplastic pollution and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes. These systems are cost-effective, adaptable, and well suited to the needs of many African regions. The role of public awareness Perhaps most importantly, we must acknowledge that this is not solely a scientific matter. It is also a social and political issue. People need to be involved in and empowered to reduce plastic consumption, demand improved sanitation, and understand the connections between environmental pollution and human health. Educational campaigns, particularly those aimed at young people and urban populations, can help shift behaviours and build public momentum for change. Public interest media play a vital role in making these connections visible and accessible to the broader public. Dr Jose L Balcazar is Senior microbiologist at the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Spain. His research explores the mechanisms and factors that promote antimicrobial resistance.
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Something stinks in Philadelphia – and it's not just the uncollected garbage
If nobody stopped me, I could talk about urban sanitation for hours on end. Unfortunately, somebody (normally my wife) always stops me – usually in the first minute or two. It seems few people share my pathological fixation with littering and ways to optimise waste management. Until recently, that is. Now every single resident of Philadelphia, my home town, is talking trash. Almost 10,000 city workers, members of the city's largest blue-collar union, have been on strike since last Tuesday, affecting everything from libraries to public swimming pools. But the most visible signs of the strike are the huge piles of trash that are accumulating (nicknamed 'Parker Piles' after mayor Cherelle Parker) because there is no garbage pickup. Did I mention it's boiling hot? You can imagine the situation. The rats are in heaven; I am in hell. While I may be a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, the stinky trash piles are obviously doing exactly what they are meant to be doing: reminding everyone that the people who keep society running are underpaid and overworked. The world had a brief moment of appreciation for essential workers during the pandemic, but, after everyone finished their nightly clapping, nothing changed, did it? The rich just got richer. The mayor has said there simply isn't enough money in the city's budget to give the union what it wants, which is better benefits and a 5% wage increase a year for three years. Sanitation workers in Philadelphia make $39,000 to $42,000 (£29,000 to £31,000) a year. I am obviously no expert in the city's budget, but it's funny what there is money for. There is a cool $877m (£645m) for the Philadelphia police department. Which, by the way, is now spending $1.3m on a new uniform that is a slightly darker shade of blue. There is enough money to pay Parker the same sort of salary (about $270,000) as the mayor of the significantly larger New York City. There is enough money, according to analysis by the Philadelphia Inquirer last year, for 16 of Parker's closest cabinet members to collectively earn $3.5m – $1m more than their peers earned under the previous mayor. 'Don't tell me what you value,' Joe Biden used to say. 'Show me your budget and I'll tell you what you value.' I hope Philadelphia starts valuing clean streets soon, because the current situation stinks. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Row over tip booking trial at Camberley and Chertsey
A plan to roll out a booking system at two of Surrey's tips should be scrapped, a councillor has County Council (SCC) will trial a scheme between 11 August and 10 November for residents who use the Camberley and Lyne (Chertsey) Community Recycling Centres (CRCs).Richard Wilson, who is the Liberal Democrat councillor for Bagshot, said the new system would "add even more hassle to the task of disposing of household waste".Natalie Bramhall, SCC Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure, said the booking system aims "to make the CRC service easier to use and more effective for Surrey residents". Councillor Wilson, who previously campaigned to stop a tip at Swift Lane in Bagshot from closing in March, said SCC had been "warned" that decision would lead to congestion at other sites."Its catchment area was 12,000 people, who now have to use Camberley or Chertsey tips," he said 1,250 people signed a petition he organised to save Swift Lane. Mr Wilson said the Conservative-run council did not have a "democratic mandate" after elections were cancelled in is calling on SCC to "listen to the people of Surrey Heath, who are clearly opposed" to the booking trial. Slots will be available to book two weeks in advance, with the system going live on 28 can make up to 10 appointments per month, with each slot lasting 15 11 August, people will be able to visit both CRCs as usual, and no other CRCs will be impacted by the Bramhall said: "To help further ease congestion we are now trialling a booking system to make the CRC service easier to use and more effective for Surrey residents. "We have listened and will continue to listen to residents and businesses to help shape the CRC service we provide to make it as easy to use and efficient as possible for Surrey residents."
