Anyway, check this baby out:
I'm going to assume you have broadband (in which case you'll be as gob-smacked at how totally awesome it, the BBC and the whole IT revolution is... a 30 minute programme whenever you want it!!!) and/or saw it. Otherwise I'm not sure what to suggest, other than this quick precis:
BBC reporter tipped off to container loads of our rubbish intercepted en route to a landfill in Indonesia, only it was full of carefully homeowner-sorted goodies, all assumed to be destined for recycling. Er, not.
I predict fireworks. There will be many knickers in a twist. Certainly a few po-faced 'they must have gone to Specsavers' 30-something, going on 60 (weeeee, retirement) types will not have enjoyed their moment in the the full glare of the reporter's Q &... well, no A's, but a lot of 'will be looked intos'.
Note to BBC and doubtless well-smug editorial team: will anyone actually follow up, or will this be another in a long line of 'I've started, so I'll... er... move on to the next headline grabber'? I believe the phrase 'isolated incident' was used a bit, and will doubtless get trotted out a bit more. But it is odd that an isolated batch of 16 containers just happened to swing via Amsterdam on its way Jakarta and get nicked in favour of all those drugs and rogue nukes.
Anyway, to the one possible prosecution for such breaches in the UK thus far, the man from the Environment Agency has told us to 'watch this space'. So that's all right then.
So what has happened, courtesy of the protagonists, the BBC and the various agencies interviewed?
Well, it seems the public's trust may have been dented a tad. That is, if we sympathise and/or agree with the ladies who got re-presented with their bin liner contents from last year were anything to go by. Or we engage fully with those empathetic Gov, Local Gov and NGO reps. So far, so down to performances of the players and the subsequent editing.
It's a tricky one. Don't do a story and abuses carry on. Do a story to its full ratings-garnerning potential, and you undo a ton (make that metric tonnes... in fact enough to fill the Albert Hall each day... don't they have a newer stat than that to trot out?) of no good to the vast majority of good stuff that is happening.
Public trust is a delicate and flighty thing. Like I say, watch for fireworks. But then, all the hoo-haa may well bring the debate and opportunities to the fore, so possibly there is no such thing as bad publicity.
I can't blame not having a review copy this time, but am just too plain lazy and time strapped to go over it again, at least for now. But a few niggles linger...
If the consumer 'victims' were faithfully separating things out, how did it all get remixed up again? Surely to heavens there is enough value to 'pure' paper to not even think of mixing it back with all the tat to then export? It's like paying extra to get caught!
Is the UK landfill tax the cheapest in the EU? I guess so. And that makes it uneconomic to export stuff? Er... is it? The bad guys.. that's Grosvenor Recycling (who had a lot of answers and proof that did not materialise, at least not in this country. Maybe it's in a container in Jakarta?)... came out with a lot that did not really get pursued. I'm sorry, catching them out in a whopper or two is not enough for laurels to be rested upon, any more than letting a grey suit stick with they will 'look into it'.
Meanwhile, a big up to Islington and Barnet for not doing the dirty (mind you, fining someone a grand for not recycling and then have this pop out would be enough to have you promoted sideways at the very least) and being held up up as shining examples of what can be done.
Final thoughts; having earlier today just fallen off our stools watching the investment of a helicopter to track David Cameron cycle to work (ok, ok, it's all about the entertainment value), in a much more overtly eco-aware piece such as this was it really necessary to have a flight for the top shot of a landfill?
Maybe unnecessary consumptions of fuel in just trying doing your job is another topic?
Or maybe... a BBC crew is as we speak doing an expose of a BBC crew...
Just asking:)
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