Recycling

Last year at this time I was all over Greenstar for the manner in which they introduced recycling. In the end, it worked out better than I feared at the time. We got a green bin and I found that I didn't really need a waste collection every week. Once we as a family got serious about recycling, we were able to reduce our weekly output to a couple of bags. Our black garbage can was not overflowing after two weeks without a pick-up.

That doesn't mean I wasn't right to wonder why we have to pay more than our neighbors in Dun Laoghaire for one collection less each month, but it was not the disaster I half expected. {I'm also glad that our son grew out of nappies before this new policy kicked in.}

Now another year is winding down and we're supposed to be getting mandatory usage charges for our household refuse in 2005. I haven't heard whether Greenstar plans to charge us by weight or volume, but either way I want to know what the story is with milk and juice cartons. Our milk cartons tell us they can be recycled. My children tell me that in school their teachers tell them that milk cartons can be recycled. In Dun Laoghaire, they specifically say "Yes" to milk and juice cartons, but the last time Greenstar mentioned this to us customers, milk and juice cartons were explicily listed as not recyclable.

This will be a big point in the new year. Cartons are probably our biggest garbage problem. We go through a lot of milk and juice and if we can recyle the cartons we'll greatly reduce our waste bill (and, oh yeah, help the environment. The Irish environment, anyway. Maybe not China's.).

€250,000 for what?

Okay, I actually acted like a concerned citizen (usually, I just talk like I care). I followed Caroline's advice and went to the civic offices on the main street to view the plans for the new €250,000 seafront development I talked about below.

As I was walking in, I was actually feeling kind of up-beat. I went in figuring that what I was going to see might really be impressive enough to change my view on this. Yes, I have my reservations about the seafront generally, but I thought to myself "this might be a nice start to a change down there". I wasn't just trying to corral my cynicism; I was positive, hopeful.

How foolish I was. First, I was surprised that the plans weren't on display. In my total ignorance, I expected to find some form of model or at least some nice artistic rendition right inside the door, near where you pay the motor tax. Uh-uh.

I asked at the desk and I was told I had to go stand at the far of the end of the counter. Now I'm feeling like a moron. Already my positive feelings are waning. But, still I figured that when I see the plans I'll feel better about it.

A polite, pleasant woman came out to ask me what I was looking for. I explained and she left and then came back with a small green folder.

I opened the folder and my disappointment turned to annoyance. There were a few pages with words describing the development and one colored picture that was really just a technical drawing. Lots of lines and explanations like "granite seating", "raised mounds", etc. No artistic rendering. I had to try and conjure up a picture of it from the technical drawing.

If our town officials really had to sell this plan to the Bray public, they'd have done a much better job than this. I left the office feeling that the officials don't want us to see how little we're really getting for the quarter of a million euros. Some granite benches and two mounds of dirt is the impression I was left with. I'm sure a lick of paint is included somewhere too.

I don't really mind if the seafront is changed, but if this is all we can get for this amount of money then I say save the cash and leave the bandstand as it is.