EXCLUSIVE: Hostel pupils to cut plastic use, NorthLink scraps plastic straws and NHS reveals plastic spend

See part two of our plastic pollution coverage with exclusive stories only in this week’s Shetland Times.

• AHS pupils vow to reduce plastic at the hostel by forming an eco-group.

• Kimo man calls on supermarkets to recude waste.

• NorthLink is cutting cotton buds and plastic straws from its vessels, as well as working with a local wholesaler for eco-friendly alternatives.

• We have more on the shocking items swallowed by fulmars.

• NHS Shetland has spent more than £24,000 on single-use plastic items in the last five years.

 

 

COMMENTS(5)

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  • john ridland

    • January 21st, 2018 13:53

    As per usual PC has taken over an the plastic problem and has gone the wrong route,
    Plastic was/is a great invention , its how we dispose off it that’s the problem.
    We all need to care a bit more an be a bit less selfish,,,,!

    REPLY
  • David Spence

    • January 22nd, 2018 12:51

    I would also suspect the vast increase of plastic is also due to the privatisation of the water and sewerage industry, and the mass production of bottled water, in plastic bottles, has contributed immensely in to this pollution.

    Are we so stupid as to believe bottled water, in all its forms, is better for us than the water coming from the tap? If this is the case, is tap water being filled with so much chemicals, a cheaper method of purifying water, we are being brainwashed into buying bottled water because it is healthier? Do we use the tap water to fill the kettle for tea or coffee or for cooking?

    Why is tap water so unhealthy in the first place we have to buy bottled water?

    I suspect the private water companies providing unhealthy tap water know the pollution they are causing by having bottled water in plastic bottles, and we do nothing about it except buy this in the millions as plastic bottles and throw it away, the plastic bottle, without giving a thought to the damage this is doing to the environment and wildlife.

    If we want to reduce plastic, do not buy bottled water.

    REPLY
    • Chris Johnston

      • January 22nd, 2018 17:38

      A capitalist trow under every bridge, eh? No one forces government organisations (e.g. NHS, schools) to buy anything using plastic, but they do it for convenience, savings, and to appease the public. So let us see in a year’s time how far your proposal has gone.

      REPLY
      • David Spence

        • January 23rd, 2018 13:26

        Well Chris, I am merely pointing out a source of plastic refuse since the privatisation of water and sewerage, and how this industry has promoted bottled water as an alternative to water coming out of the tap.

        Surely one can see the huge increase in plastic pollution as a consequence of the water and sewerage industry going down the road of selling water in the plastic bottle form, and, unfortunately, the public are falling for this market in their millions regardless to the plastic pollution they are causing.

        If the perception of drinking water out of the tap is unhealthy, why is bottled water being promoted so much as an alternative?

        Why is there no promotion in using tap water as a source of drinking water?

        You are probably right, it is all to do with capitalism, business strategy etc etc but it is also to do with lying and deceiving the public as well. ‘ Drink bottled water, it is healthier ‘.? Why?

        The issue at hand is plastic pollution, and the water and sewerage industry being a large contributor to this pollution.

        Promoting drinking tap water would be 1 answer to reducing this pollution?

      • Ali Inkster

        • January 23rd, 2018 15:54

        Could you provide some evidence for your theory that thames water scottish water etc are selling water in plastic bottles. maybe a link to their shareholdings in highland spring, perrier, strathmore etc etc. Or is this just another ill informed rant?
        Simple fact that you keep ignoring is that it was your beloved left wing 1970s red labour that bankrupted the country and went cap in hand to the IMF for a bailout ( the same IMF that is desperate to keep us in the your beloved EU) A precondition of the bailout was the sell off of national assets (primarily because your beloved red labour had proven utterly incapable of running them). So your beloved red labour started the sell off of national assets only they kept very quiet about it and sold only to their friends. It was the hated Maggie Thatcher that opened the sale of national assets to the nation ie you, me and everybody else (i’m guessing you did not buy in at the time and are therefor bitter at losing out).

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