Sir, – Regarding the recent article in The Courier on the cost of processing contaminated domestic recycling bins, confusion over what types of plastic can be recycled or not is a real issue.
Most people will be familiar with the widely used recycling logo.
But what if this is not actually present on say bacon packaging, but a triangular logo is present with a code letter; is this a recyclable item?
There are two solutions available in deciding which is which. If there is no recyclable logo, then it should go to general waste. Or preferably, governments must pass legislation to make all plastic packaging capable of being recycled.
But then, as I have written previously, we managed very well 50 years ago and more, without all this plastic blighting the land, lakes, rivers and seas.
The other aspect to bin contamination is of course laziness on behalf of the householder – not rinsing out containers prior to placing in the bin, not caring what bin it goes in.
The same goes for the general waste bin, whereby food and liquids fill the bottom of the bin creating a disgusting layer of stinking fly food.
Such people will be the first to complain to the council about insect and fly infestations, due solely to laziness and “couldn’t care less” attitudes.
The answer is obvious, don’t empty poorly-managed bins, but then where will the contents eventually be found?
Geoff Bray.
Heather Croft,
Letham.
Planning system failing locals
Sir,– The moratorium on large-scale building projects in the East Neuk which my fellow ward councillor Bill Porteous calls for (Courier, April 25) is not possible.
Fife Council does not have the power to grant one; it has to ask the Scottish Government, and should the Scottish Government comply, which is unimaginable, legal challenges from developers would abound.
The planning system, with its development plans, policies and procedures, cannot be circumvented with such an intervention, however justified or popular it may be.
Cllr Porteous’ call though reflects the frustration felt by many councillors, community councils and residents that the planning system affords little opportunity for them to steer development according to community interests.
The current planning system is essentially developer-led, and weighted at key points in favour of developers’ interests. This will get worse, not better, when the Planning Bill, which is currently passing through Holyrood, gets in to the statute books.
The Scottish Government is seeking to water down the already inadequate opportunities for public engagement in the process whereby Local Development Plans are put together.
It has also outright rejected the call for equal rights of appeal, whereby objectors get the same rights to appeal a planning decision as applicants.
Cllr Linda Holt.
Dreel House,
Pittenweem.
Calculated council move?
Sir, – It has now been revealed that the staff for the National Security Welfare Agency in Dundee will be, on an interim basis, housed at Lindsay Street where the council have leased an entire floor for a period of 18 months while efforts to find a permanent home continue.
There is already a large amount of vacant office premises available in Dundee. Am I being cynical in thinking that it has been the council’s plan all along to secure their offices, at Site 6, the highly criticised space opposite the V&A?
Diane Rennie.
Grove Road,
Broughty Ferry.
Climate action in our hands
Sir, – One of your regular correspondents suggests that it is pointless for the UK to do anything to try to reduce carbon emissions while countries like China and India are apparently taking little or no action.
It would be interesting to know if they believe this principle should be applied to other matters.
For example, if your neighbour drops litter in the street would you do the same?
Surely we should do the right thing, which in my opinion is to try to reduce carbon emissions regardless of others’ actions. At the same time we can try and persuade other countries to comply with agreed international treaties while realising that this may be difficult.
Robert Potter.
Menzieshill Road,
Dundee.
Help with home headaches
Sir, – I’m shocked at the number of friends and neighbours who have had to replace their entire roof within a year or so, as a consequence of power jet washing.
Despite reassurances that the roofs would be “resealed” after cleaning, the sarking had become soaked, and rotted.
I’m told that it is possible to clean-wash a roof safely, but never with a powerful jet.
Personally, I’m quite fond of the moss on my own roof. It denotes pure air and provides insects for the birds. But the safest method of removing it would be to scrape it off.
One wonders whether certain roof-cleaning companies liaise with roof repairers? Perhaps that’s too cynical a view.
Nevertheless, Government warnings might save countless of home-owners thousands of pounds.
James Stevenson.
Drummond Avenue,
Auchterarder.
Bear numbers don’t add up
Sir, – In Tuesday’s Courier Jim Crumley stated that the increasing scarcity of sea ice drives polar bears towards climate change-induced extinction.
From a reported 5,000 bears in the 1950s the number in 2005 was 22,500 increasing to a current level of 30,000.
Undoubtedly one of the main reasons for the population recovery is that sport and commercial hunting of polar bears has been largely stopped.
We know that the polar bear survived the Roman Warming period and the Medieval Warming period when temperatures were higher than they are now.
Geneticists tell us that they must have survived periods when there was no arctic ice at all.
But these are facts and of little interest to those who adhere to the unproven theory of manmade global warming.
Bill McKenzie.
Fintry Place,
Broughty Ferry.
Street back on right road
Sir, – I am delighted that Kate Oakes, the producer of Coronation Street has been replaced.
For the 18 months since she has been in charge the storylines have gone from bad to worse, featuring violence that should never have been shown pre-watershed and a high number of complaints to OFCOM, as well as a massive drop in viewing figures particularly from the older generation who have watched since day one.
Coronation Street is Britain’s longest-running soap opera with a tradition of Northern working class humour. Hopefully this will return. It is one of Britain’s great institutions and should not be changed.
Gordon Kennedy.
Simpson Square,
Perth.
