We have all heard about recycling or the lack of it and now we are being told the problem with plastic is going to become an even bigger nightmare.

Why is my  simple question? Why is this such a massive headache in our modern times?

Since the introduction of charging for disposable plastic bags I have not had to use one since as I either take my own of carry the few items in my arms or pockets. So Government legislation can create huge change.

There is a very sad fact that there is no national policy on recycling, plastic production and packaging laws. This has got to be one of our dumbest situations ever apart from the other depressing fact that our Councils, throughout the UK, sing from completely different hymn sheets when it comes to refuse collection and recycling. This should be a standardised practise set in law and regulation.

I am seriously contemplating returning all the unnecessary packaging to the supermarkets and shops (even the online ones) so they can deal with all their crap which is so wasteful and used to dupe us into their marketing techniques.

What I find remarkable is that many of us will carefully divide our waste and do our bit to help only to hear that our efforts are worthless due to the fact that so much is not fit for recycling. Surely in our modern times all plastics should be recyclable, disposable coffee cups made from either reusable materials or ones that can be recycled and packaging can be fit for purpose.

Confidential waste from businesses or from domestic homes could be shredded and then added to our organic waste to be made into compost.

If supermarkets and shopping centres introduced bottle and tin banks which gave a deposit back then the amount of litter on our streets would dramatically fall. Kids would scour the bins and streets to boost their pocket money.

China has announced it will not be taking our plastic any more which came as a shock as why didn’t we sort this problem out before it became so bad we had to export our rubbish? Also, we should return all the unrequired packaging back to them when they ship the tonnes of imported goods to us. It might help them be more efficient in their approach to packaging things.

I think the most important Law that we can pass in the UK is that if an item of packaging cannot be recycled or reused then use products that can. I understand that some products contain certain components that cannot or are hard to recycle but a vast amount of things can be changed. Outlaw the one use items that end up in landfill and take lifetimes to break down.

This should be spread to all countries via G8 summits and global education.

It may cost more to start with but if waste is cut, pollution is halved and lives are saved then in the long term it will balance out and may even be cheaper.

Yes it will take some organisation and harsh law enforcement but it would be a worthwhile exercise but I guess that’s the point. Its hassle and work for those in charge and, to start with, profits may take a hit (so the bosses and shareholders will see their fortunes halved).

Designers, engineers, inventors and science must come to our aid; now, not tomorrow. There must be alternative solutions to the easy answer plastic and non-recyclable products pose.

Something has to change though and we must make an effort to address the question, “why?”

Animals live better lives in the wild but man calls them savage, yet we destroy and pollute our habitats and call this civilisation. Our world and society leaders need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Can it be that hard?