Solution found to the World’s biggest problem . . .

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

Just heard on the BBC of a fantastic new idea to cut down on landfill and recycling

Apparently it is often possible to repair broken items instead of throwing them away. You might also be able to pass on unwanted items to others who can make use of them. There were even more suggestions but I simply couldn't wait to pass on the news . . .

Why has nobody ever thought of this before? Think how much waste it would have saved!

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

[AJWParticipant @ajw]

What an idea, can’t believe anybody’s not thought of it before!

Alan

[geoff adamsParticipant @geoffadams14047]

health & safety will put a stop to that but I totally agree all for recycling why throw it away when it can be reused when will the powers to be come to their senses and live in the real world neighbour took a bag of rubble to the tip charged £2.50 they sell it on for foundations and such wonder why we have fly tipping

make easy for use to recycle

Geoff

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Not sure that HSE would approve of damaged/worn items being repaired or modified and repurposed.

Plus think of the effect on refuse tip employees!

But it would be kinder to the environment if we all did.

Howard

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

The IoM has ‘Amenity’ sites open to public to take items for reuse (see a couple of Mark Noel’s articles in MEW reusing such items) – I’ve picked up several small items including a working vacuum cleaner that needed only a very good clean + a new wheel- however they still charge for CRTs, fridges + freezers which of course just encourages fly dumping which cost more to clear up than gained in charges but of course on different budgets!

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The quest to manufacture as cheaply as possible has removed the maintainability and repairability of just about everything and the pace of change has rendered yesterday’s products obsolete. Anyone for a VHS player or a CRT tv? My son worked at the local recycling centre(dump) and it is remarkable how much working equipment we throw away and clothes still with tags on and the list goes on. I think we just can’t be bothered to use sites like freecycle to match stuff we no longer want with a new user. He also tells me i waste my time washing stuff to go in my green bin for recycling as loads of it just gets buried or burned with all the rubbish. I am beginning to doubt that much of the stuff with a recycle symbol is actually really recyclable in the real world or that there is a market for it.

Mike

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Mike Poole on 08/11/2018 22:12:03:

The quest to manufacture as cheaply as possible has removed the maintainability and repairability of just about everything and the pace of change has rendered yesterday’s products obsolete.

…

Mike

Exactly, and the knowledge that any current tech level – and the infrastructure to support it – is temporary, as well as the need to keep factories working, only encourages the design and manufacture of limited-life products often unsuitable for repair/refurb.

I sometimes think that society has to make an actual decision to suspend some aspects of technical change, or it will continue to run out of control with results that in the end can only be catastrophic.

[Barnaby WildeParticipant @barnabywilde70941]

What will actually happen is they will continue as normal in pumping out the junk that we have all been conditioned to need, they'll just tax us heavily when it's past it's short design life & it comes time to throw it away.

I've said it before & I'll say it again, the only 'green' product is one which is never manufactured.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

But nobody has time to repair things anymore. We are all far too busy looking at the interwebs, bingeing on Netflix, supping the froth off lattes, taking selfies, posting on internet forums…

[Barnaby WildeParticipant @barnabywilde70941]

Posted by Mick B1 on 08/11/2018 22:28:35:

Exactly, and the knowledge that any current tech level – and the infrastructure to support it – is temporary, as well as the need to keep factories working, only encourages the design and manufacture of limited-life products often unsuitable for repair/refurb.

I sometimes think that society has to make an actual decision to suspend some aspects of technical change, or it will continue to run out of control with results that in the end can only be catastrophic.

When I worked for the ftse100 electricals retailer I became aware of just how much of the future is stacked up & waiting it's time. Products are often obsolete even before they hit the shelve's.

If you can imagine the time & inertia involved in building a MASSIVE national distribution centre, from the time you realise that you need a bigger one to the time the builder hands over the keys. We'd already realised 2yrs from completion that due to flat panel TV's coming on stream we had somewhat 'overestimated' our storage requirements.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Is re-cycling good for business ?? It wouldn't help manufacturing, but if manufacture was from abroad, then domestic re-cycling could be an advantage.

So if it said "Made in Britain", scrap it and if it said made in China, re-furbish it ???? I don't like that idea though.

BobH (Tongue in cheek)

[clogsParticipant @clogs]

we sell anything over 10euro's or for job lots and the rest gets given away for free….

I was given about 25kgs of sloted wood screws, (who ever uses them now ?) kept the brass and gave the rest away……….

there's an unwriten rule here, anything that can be usefull is left by the central community bins for anyone to take…….other than that we use facebook, they have a free-to-take site…….sure beats a trip to the dump, which for us is 15miles away…….most of the trackways etc on my farm are made from unwanted roof tiles etc…..not sure now but it was €65 per ton to dump stuff……

[Mike E.Participant @mikee-85511]

The DVLA already have. This year our 15 year old car cost us one hundred and ninety pounds road tax, yet the newer one we just bought now costs us thirty pounds.

Posted by Mick Charity on 08/11/2018 23:23:31:

………………… they'll just tax us heavily when it's past it's short design life & it comes time to throw it away.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

In my surrounding area we have Freecycle, for instance I have just bought a Blueray/DVD player, my old DVD player, still in good working order, will go onto Freecycle for anybody who wants it for free. I've had loads of tools, filing cabinets, pallet wood, a lawnmower which just needed a service which my daughter had. If my wife and I need a new washing machine etc I strip the old one for bits.

Martin P

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Landfill is not the world’s biggest problem. Humans are! Recycling needs to be increased, not cut down!

So much talk, from some, on here of always buying new machines, too. My lathe and mills are all over 50 years old.

It’s often a case of cost over the useful lifespan of an item.

Older cars may cost more for road tax, but they may not depreciate as much as a newer one. It is all a balance of repair costs, reliability, safety, running costs, etc. How much money does it cost you every time the car salesman exchanges your car for a newer one?

[RRMBKParticipant @rrmbk]

I am still regularly riding my 750 BMW that I bought new 42 years ago. Over its lifetime it has taken me to work regularly and on long distance europe trips. I have carried out various repairs but it still starts first time and I can still get spares for it ( although at rather exorbitant prices!)

I recently visited the Triumph factory at Hinkley, great day out and very interesting . Very tempted by a new bike but will it still be going in 40 years time i'm not sure? will I be able to get spares , I suspect not, can I service and repair it myself absolutely not !!

Exactly the same applies to my 26 year old Peugot based motorhome in comparison with a new one,

Companies profits and shareholders dividends are based on selling us a new item just as often as they possibly can and marketing is based on convincing us that things we might only actually want are things we desperately need.

Like NDIY all my machines are over 40 years old and still perfectly fine.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

The problem is that everyone confidently buying new and guzzling energy is what keeps us all rich. Even those with the strongest green credentials.

Wealth depends on trade and money circulating continually to generate new growth. Not a sensible thing in my view but I can't think of a good alternative.

Unfortunately the party can't be stopped without it hurting financially, probably extremely badly. Be careful what you wish for – your pension depends on it! No way will owning old cars, bikes and lathes keep the wolf from the door.

Dave

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Across the Pond some cities charge $5 a month recycling fee added onto garbage pick up fee. Found out there is no market for the stuff but that does not stop the money collection.

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

This will make you think about recycling .

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 08/11/2018 21:44:42:

Not sure that HSE would approve of damaged/worn items being repaired or modified and repurposed.

Plus think of the effect on refuse tip employees!

But it would be kinder to the environment if we all did.

Howard

The HSE would have nothing to say provided that the operation was carried out safely and the finished product was safe to use, neither of which sounds unreasonable to me. The problem is not H&S or the HSE, it is (often highly paid)people who are not prepared to exercise their judgement and just want to stop the job.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

If the Greenies get every thing they wish for, we will have quite a way to catch up with the cave man, because we won't even have fire to cook with or keep us warm—– Oh that's ok the warming temperature will help there.

Ian S C

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Will the planet self regulate? As it warms up we will burn less fuel and nature will recover? Maybe?

Mike

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

That is a good point Mike

Mick

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

My job just before just having to pack up due to ill health was a plant mechanic which involved repairing and testing electrical tools. Later on they started to produce tools with circuit boards in them when they packed up a new board was needed which in many cases meant that it was cheaper to replace the complete tool.

I went of a course at Kango who also made other tools one being drills for the DIY market. The instructor took us around the factory and when we came to the testing station he explained that these drill are design with a working life of as little as 1/2hours work as many DIY'ers would possibly never use them for that time over a years so called use, even if many did last for longer than that.

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