packaging

 A variety of items are made from polystyrene, including fast-food containers, vending machine cups and packaging chips and blocks. Although manufacturers no longer use CFCs that damage the ozone layer, the alternatives are not without their hazards, e.g. pentane is a greenhouse gas and benzene is carcinogenic.

Polystyrene is difficult to recycle therefore avoid it if at all possible. Re-use polystyrene packaging wherever possible or pass it on to schools/play schemes for craft activities.

If Ross-shire householders have polystyrene (and clean other plastics by arrangement) to recycle please email Bews at randgbews@tiscali.co.uk and they will email back suitable time for you to drop off the plastics at Invergordon. The public are asked not to drop off without prior contact.

Packaging is a large part of what we throw away. Figures vary from one-third to one-sixth of the waste in our dustbins. Bottles, cans, boxes, bags and wrappers are all packaging. It has been worked out that for every £50 a family spends on buying things, £8 is for the packaging!

If you find that items you purchase have excessive packaging, contact the manufacturers and complain. Look out for dealers wanting packaging for re-use.

Choose items with less packaging - look at www.positivepackage.org.uk  for ideas to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging. There is also a template letter available to help you complain constructively if you find overpackaging.