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Coronavirus Safety Policy

Stevenage Skip Hire Ltd - 0800 169 8588

t: 0800 169 8588

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WE ARE OPEN

FOR BUSINESS

Coronavirus Safety Aware

NO physical contact with our drivers during visits

ALL communications and paperwork sent via telephone or email

NO paperwork to be signed

ALL staff are strictly following our
Coronavirus Safety Policy

Plastic pollution in the ocean starts from the rivers

Over the last ten years or so we have become increasingly alarmed at the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans.

A scary statistic is that more than eight million tons of waste plastic ends up in the ocean every single year. If we continue to pollute our oceans at this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 and it can take many years to break down if at all, not to mention the toxins it leaches in the process.

The source of all this plastic waste

Most of the plastic waste is washed into the ocean by rivers. And ninety percent of it comes from just ten rivers around the world.

The offending rivers

Experts have examined the waste found in these rivers and the surrounding landscape and were able to estimate that just ten river systems carry ninety percent of the plastic waste that ends up in the world oceans.

Eight of these rivers are in Asia, namely the Yangtze, Indus, Yellow, Hai He, Ganges, Pearl, Amur, Mekong, and the other two are in Africa, these are the Nile and the Niger.

The more waste there is in any particular populated area that is not disposed of properly, the more plastic will end up in the river nearest to that land mass and this will eventually complete its journey to the sea.

The offending rivers all had two things in common; a very high population living in the surrounding area and a rather poor waste management system.

The Yangtze is Asias longest river and also one of worlds most ecologically important rivers. The rivers area is home to almost 500 million people, this accounts for more than one third of the overall Chinese population. The Yangtze is also the biggest carrier of plastic pollution to the ocean.

The good news is that China has made some considerable efforts to prevent and reduce the waste that the country produces.

For many years China has imported millions of tons of recyclable waste from other countries, but a growing recycling problem on its own shores have meant that the government had to change its policy on these imports.

China leads the way in reducing waste plastic

China has now ended imports of foreign waste and recently extended the ban to metals. Better still, China has now ordered 46 cities to begin sorting waste so that the country can reach a 35% recycling rate by the year 2020.

So if one of the biggest polluters can change its ways, there is no reason why the rest of the world shouldn not follow suit.

India fails to clean up the Ganges of plastic waste

The Indus and the Ganges flow through India. Sadly they carry the second and sixth highest amounts of plastic waste out to the ocean.

Although the Indian government launched a clean up project to clean up the Ganges, but recently environmental experts in India have stated that none of the river has been cleaned so far.

In 2017 at the United Nations Environment Assembly, India along with 193 other countries, signed a resolution to reduce marine plastic waste.

Last year the National Green Tribunal introduced a ban on disposable plastics in Delhi, while non-biodegradable plastic bags are banned in many states. By eliminating the plastic waste from the catchment areas of these rivers would be a major step forward in reducing the plastic waste that finds its way into the ocean via these rivers. However, to really make a difference, it is vital that these countries improve their waste management processes and raise public awareness on the issue of plastic pollution.


Other Articles on Waste Management and Recycling in Hertfordshire

Hoarding costs you money

Many hoarding behaviours can be put down to past experiences the individual has gone through. This may be periods of abject poverty, that makes them feel the need to hoard items just in case they could be used to good effect at a later stage. It is now thought that hoarding can adversely affect your finances. This may sound like a strange statement to make, but a bad financial situation is something we all want to avoid.

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Time to have a good clearout

We've all been there. Our house has become a little cluttered and we feel the need to have a good tidy up. Many refer to it as a spring clean, but any time of year is a good time to de-clutter our living space. Having a good tidy up not only clears your house, it will help to clear your mind too. Research has shown that living in a cluttered environment can even have adverse effects on a person's sleep.

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Fly tipping: what's the problem in Wheathampstead?

Illegal dumping is the proper name for fly tipping and it is typically distinguished from littering because of the type and amount of material left and the way in which it is disposed of. Fly tipping has always been a problem in Wheathampstead and indeed all over Hertfordshire.

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The waste consequences of Covid

In an age where we are constantly looking for ways to cut down on our waste, it seems strange that so much extra waste has been created by the covid pandemic. The vast majority of this is made from plastic, so surely it could be recycled, but when one considers what it has been used for, it renders it potentially hazardous waste.

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New Bill designed to ban export of plastic waste

When we throw away our waste materials, few of us know or possibly even wonder where this waste will end up. Many often believe that if it goes into the recycling bin, it will be recycled and therefore they will be doing their bit for the good of the environment. Unfortunately, a good deal of plastic waste often ends up in developing countries.

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The problems with waste disposal in Wheathampstead

How many times have we looked at all the waste materials we have accumulated and despaired at the arduous prospect of sorting it into various types of waste to dispose of at the local tip? This once simple task has now become a major headache for many as the restrictions on what we can dispose of in landfill has increased so much in recent times.

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Plastic pollution around the globe

Plastic pollution is now one of the biggest environmental concerns we have to face. You may feel that large amounts of plastic waste are unavoidable in the world we live in, but you and your family can help with the plastic pollution issue by being aware of its dangers and taking the necessary steps to reduce your plastic waste.

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Carbon emissions and the environment

An awful lot has been said over the years about the damage we are doing to our environment with the carbon emissions and waste we produce. Some dispute the possibility that we are damaging our planet beyond repair, while others state quite clearly that we have very little time to change our ways and that time is running out.

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How the five R's can dramatically improve our environment in Wheathampstead?

We have all heard of recycling our waste materials and for many years, some councils have provided special recycling bins to help residents avoid putting too much waste into landfill. But recycling is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to helping keep our environment healthy in Wheathampstead.

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Recycle or incinerate! What is the best solution for our waste materials in Wheathampstead?

We are constantly being encouraged to recycle our waste materials and not putting them into landfill. However, there appears to be an emerging trend for incineration of waste in many areas, but is this a good or bad step?

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Single use plastic products in Wheathampstead

Here at Wheathampstead Skip Hire we always recycle as much of your waste as possible, however, there is always more that can be done to improve the environment that we all need to survive.

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A guide to what can and cannot go into a hired skip

At Wheathampstead Skip Hire we are frequently asked what waste materials can be placed into the hired skips we supply. So we thought it would be a good idea to offer a quick guide as to what is and is not acceptable.

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Recycling your waste materials in Wheathampstead

Recycling is something most of us do now to some degree. Some do it more than others, but we mostly appreciate that it is an important part of our daily lives. It is more important to recycle waste in order to conserve resources and maintain a healthy environment than ever before. The question is, are we really doing everything possible when it comes to recycling our waste materials? The achances are that many of us are probably not doing all we can. So here are a few tips to help you recycle properly.

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The problem with plastic pollution in Hertfordshire

Plastic pollution is now one of the biggest environmental concerns we have to face. You may feel that large amounts of plastic waste are unavoidable in the world we live in, but you and your family can help with the plastic pollution issue by being aware of its dangers and taking the necessary steps to reduce your plastic waste.

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Waste reduction in Hertfordshire

The country is now committed to reducing the amount of waste and the government have set targets for waste reduction. A new plan for cutting waste was published back in 2007 that aimed for at least 40 per cent of household waste to be recycled or composted by 2010, this rose to 50 per cent by 2020.

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Plastic waste from the United Kingdom may be sent overseas instead of recycled

Massive amounts of packaging waste is being sent overseas to be recycled and turned into new products. However, concerns have been raised that in reality a good deal of it is being dumped in landfill sites in countries that we have no agreement with.

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Just how recyclable is the plastic we use in Wheathampstead Skip Hire

We all know that plastic is recyclable, so as long as we put it in the correct bin it will be made into something else useful. Sadly this is a myth that all too many people believe, the painful truth is quite the opposite. We have all seen the triangular set of chasing arrows logo on plastic products and seem to automatically assume that it denotes that the product is recyclable.

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What happens to all the plastic we throw out

Just where would we be without plastic? The production of plastic has exploded over the last fifty or so years, growing from 16.5 million tons in 1964 to 343 million tons in 2014; it is expected to double by 2036. The question is, where does all of this plastic go when people in Hertfordshire throw it away?

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Fly tipping: A modern day curse

Fly tipping is simply another term used to describe illegal dumping of all manner of waste material, it is also called fly dumping. Whatever term is used, it is the dumping of waste illegally instead of using an authorised method such as kerbside collection or using an authorised rubbish dump. It is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land, including waste dumped or tipped on a site with no licence to accept waste.

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Recycled plastic for roads and pavements

Plastic use in road and pavement construction is not exactly a new concept, but it does appear to be increasing. Using plastic waste to make plastic roads is definitely on the upward trend. Plastic roads mainly use plastic carrier bags, disposable cups and PET bottles that are collected from landfill sites prior to burial and are a vital part of this construction material.

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Seaweed sachets offer an alternative to plastic

Indonesia has a wealth of naturally growing seaweed that can make an edible, water permeable film that can be used in sachets that hold tea, coffee, and hot cocoa as well as a whole host of other useful daily consumable products.

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The increasing problem of plastics in our oceans

The amount of plastic in the oceans of the world is predicted to treble in the next ten years unless affirmative action is taken to deal with the problem, according to a new report just published.

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Ways to reduce your plastic waste

Plastic is a great product in so many ways, but the environmental impact it can have is enormous, particularly when it comes to the single use plastic products we seem to uses on a daily basis in our throw away society. Can we as private individuals do to cut down our personal plastic usage?

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Plastic microbeads are a load of rubbish

Would you like to fill your mouth with plastic, or cover other parts of your anatomy with it on a regular basis? The answer would most likely be a resounding no, but we are already doing just that.

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Waste plastic from the UK is polluting the globe

Literally thousands of tons of plastic scrap collected for recycling from British households have been transported and dumped on sites across the world. This shocking revelation was revealed from a recent freedom of information request.

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Hiring a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire rather than using the local dump

Have you got a load of rubbish to dump? Is it better to hire a skip or use the local dump? Do you need a permit for having a skip? Can anyone apply for a permit? Here are a few answers which could help you when hiring a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire

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Hire a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire for your garden waste

No matter what the season, a medium sized Hertfordshire garden can generate a massive amount of waste materials. The winter will leave a lot of dead leaves and twiggs from nearby trees to clear up, and when the warmer months hit, the waste is generated on a weekly basis as things grow rapidly.

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Get a skip and avoid fly tipping in Hertfordshire

Not only does fly tipping blight the Hertfordshire countryside around us, it can have a devastating effect on the wildlife that we co-exist with. Then of course there is the eye watering cost of clearing up the mess that inconsiderate people have created. We all pay the price for this ecologically unsound practice through increased council tax bills from our councils. This could all be avoided if everyone disposed of their waste in the correct manner and hiring a skip is probably the best way to go about this, particularly if you have a large amount of waste to dispose of.

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Some facts about waste and recycling from Wheathampstead Skip Hire

The United Kingdom produces over 100 million tonnes of waste every single year. If you consider that one tonne is about the weight of a small car, it is easy to see how it mounts up. In less than two hours, the waste we produce would fill the Albert Hall.

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Hire a skip instead of going to your local Hertfordshire tip

Using a local Hertfordshire tip is not the same as it was a few years ago. These days everything has to go in the correct hopper, it cannot all go in the same one any longer. This means you have to know what goes where in order to segregate all the rubbish at home.

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Hire a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire for your soil and mud

A Hertfordshire client recently hired one of our skips as they just could not believe how much earth they had to get rid of when they dug out a pond in their back garden. Our client had intended to build up their flower beds and other low spots of their garden with the excavated earth. They never thought they would need to get rid of any earth at all.

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Useful information about skip hire in Hertfordshire

The one question we get asked the most at Wheathampstead Skip Hire is what size skip the customer will need. We always suggest that you think about what you need to dispose of and remember that two skips can be far more expensive than one larger skip. Skips are measured by the yard and range from 3 yard mini skips to roll-on roll-off containers more suitable for higher volume waste requirements.

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Hire a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire to save you time effort and money

Hiring a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire is without a doubt the best way to get rid of all your waste materials! It is convenient, quick, easy and saves you a huge amount of work. Generally speaking, we only get a couple of days a week away from work, and when you end up ferrying your household waste back and forth from the local tip, your weekend soon gets swallowed up.

Read more about - Hire a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire to save you time effort and money...

The benefits of skip hire from Wheathampstead Skip Hire in Hertfordshire

Having a good clear out of the garden shed or garage produces way more rubbish than you ever imagined possible. Decorating preparation can also produce a good deal of waste, such as old skirting boards and stripped wood chip paper that his been up since the war, so a skip is a great way to dispose of the waste.

Read more about - The benefits of skip hire from Wheathampstead Skip Hire in Hertfordshire...


Further Information

If you would like to know more or are interested in a quote we would be happy to help. Phone us on 0800 169 8588, email us at info@stevenageskiphire.co.uk or fill in our enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Stevenage Skip Hire Ltd - Envirowaste Recycling Centre - Jacks Hill - Graveley - Herts SG4 7EQ

Stevenage Skip Hire Ltd
Envirowaste Recycling Centre
Jacks Hill
Graveley
Herts SG4 7EQ

Articles
Hoarding costs you money
Time to have a good clearout
Fly tipping: what's the problem in Wheathampstead?
The waste consequences of Covid
New Bill designed to ban export of plastic waste
The problems with waste disposal in Wheathampstead
Plastic pollution around the globe
Carbon emissions and the environment
How the five R's can dramatically improve our environment in Wheathampstead?
Recycle or incinerate! What is the best solution for our waste materials in Wheathampstead?
Single use plastic products in Wheathampstead
A guide to what can and cannot go into a hired skip
Recycling your waste materials in Wheathampstead
The problem with plastic pollution in Hertfordshire
Waste reduction in Hertfordshire
Plastic waste from the United Kingdom may be sent overseas instead of recycled
Just how recyclable is the plastic we use in Wheathampstead Skip Hire
What happens to all the plastic we throw out
Fly tipping: A modern day curse
Recycled plastic for roads and pavements
Seaweed sachets offer an alternative to plastic
The increasing problem of plastics in our oceans
Plastic pollution in the ocean starts from the rivers
Ways to reduce your plastic waste
Plastic microbeads are a load of rubbish
Waste plastic from the UK is polluting the globe
Hiring a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire rather than using the local dump
Hire a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire for your garden waste
Get a skip and avoid fly tipping in Hertfordshire
Some facts about waste and recycling from Wheathampstead Skip Hire
Hire a skip instead of going to your local Hertfordshire tip
Hire a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire for your soil and mud
Useful information about skip hire in Hertfordshire
Hire a skip from Wheathampstead Skip Hire to save you time effort and money
The benefits of skip hire from Wheathampstead Skip Hire in Hertfordshire
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