Just when we thought we’d got away with it, it’s finally happened. We are being told to recycle and risk a fine of something like 1000 pounds if we fail to do it, apparently. There was a notice attached to our wheelie bin this very morning. It’s official.

Not that I personally have anything against it. I’ve long thought it’s a good idea for other people, but when it comes to it – I haven’t a clue. I’ve been really good about going along to our local station car park and happily tipping bottles into appropriately marked bins. I’ve saved newspapers for the boy scouts, helping them to make money – but apparently no one wants them any more. (Newspapers that is – I don’t think boy scouts are endangered species yet).

Cardboard boxes in theory go to the tip, but in actual fact the other half has a thing about “what if we need to take something back – we’ll need the box” so they’re taking up valuable shed room. We’ve composted too – although it never seems to break down quite how it’s supposed to.
So – it’s finally come to it – just at the same time as we hear that there’s a glut of waste and they don’t know where to put it. But can anyone tell me – if there’s a cardboard tube with a metal top and bottom – do I separate it or treat it as one or the other? If I chop my finger off washing out a corned beef can, will my household policy cover?

And where shall we put this multiplicity of containers, I ask. Don’t tempt me!