Forum Topic

Air Pollution

Seems like every time I go out the house lately all I can smell is burning plastic. I was going to mention this last week then I heard about the Camden fire so I thought it might have been that. But tonight down Studland Road it's overpowering. The council website has a lot to say about how people shouldn't have bonfires but it seems to be down to individual morality or the vigilence of neighbours to keep the situation under control.I think Jason Stacy should spend the money from the Ealing Phallus devellopers on some helicpters with infra-red sensors to patrol the borough. It's surely cowboy property devellopers and villains on the industrial estates who are skimping on waste disposal. This is a serious crime. We're breathing in lethal dioxins every day!

Alan Anderson ● 6801d18 Comments

http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/environment/pollution/air_pollution/bonfires/index.htmlYou can't just light bonfires everywhere and anywhere you like and/or burn anything you like on them. Take a look at what the Council says on this.  Plastics should not be burned like this.  Is it local or is it coming from Slough?

Philippa Bond ● 6801d

If the government bring in charges per weight for garbage, there will be a very large increase in people burning rubbish in their back gardens.  So be prepared to get used to the smell of a multitude of bonfires!

S. D. Brock ● 6801d

Our streets are already a lot cleaner.  There has been another prosecution of an illegal waste carrier (see Press Releases at www.ealing.gov.uk.)If you do suspect it is building or commercial waste being burned rather than disposed of legally then you should contact the Council.

Philippa Bond ● 6800d

So that's why Philippa wants a metal dustbin.It doesn't melt when the contents are set on fire! :)

Alan Brainsby ● 6800d

You are right it is a good reason not to look for one!

Philippa Bond ● 6800d

Actually I think Sheila is wrong. We now have brilliant recycling facilities in Ealing and it is much less hassle to recycle than it is to go and set fire to the rubbish upsetting the neighbours, endangering everyone and stinking your home and the neighbourhood out.If that wasn't irritating enough you would then probably find you had Envirocrime Officers knocking at the door.

Philippa Bond ● 6799d

Phillipa - I'm afraid I have seen at first hand the results of charges by weight for garbage.  Since they introduced it in Dublin, not only is there a huge increase in flytipping in former beauty spots, but the "back garden" bonfire is a regular occurrence among people who don't want to drive to the former beauty spots.  Once beautiful scenic drives through the Dublin and Wicklow mountains are now littered trails of foul smelling rubbish and smouldering bonfires.

S. D. Brock ● 6799d

One of the reasons of smelling burning plastic is that electric cables etc are burned to get at the metal wires as there is a good market for it now. Read an article about it in National Geographic and it isn't just third world countries. Lots of scrap metal merchants about.

Peter Wright ● 6799d

It would be helpful if the Borough had a  "rapid response system" with an easily remembered phone number AND was available 24/7.This number could then be used when there is a chance of someone being caught in the act of a illegal activity such as fly-tipping, pavement parking, dustbin infernos, etc.

Alan Brainsby ● 6799d

Somebody in Ireland has just been fined thousands for having an illegal landfill site.  I think in Ireland they went very quickly into alternate weekly collections.http://www.letsrecycle.com/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=37&listcatid=217&listitemid=9692There was another prosecution for illegal unlicensed waste carrying listed in the Press Releases for Ealing this month. The damage was done years ago.  Just look at the way in which people have a picnic in the park and then just get up and walk away leaving all the debris just sitting there despite the fact that there are bins available.The answer has to be to REDUCE our waste and make the most of the Council facilities available which we pay for in our Council Tax.

Philippa Bond ● 6799d

Phillipa - your link made me laugh, there is always some resourceful scoundrel prepared to provide a dubous service when required. I guess we'll see more of the same here when/if the bin tax bites.

S. D. Brock ● 6799d

The dumping is happening already.It is not just illegal waste carriers being prosecuted now but also those who use them eg householders under the Duty of Care Regulations.

Philippa Bond ● 6799d

You're absolutely right Peter,cable theft is a big,growing and dangerous business nowadays. A local electricity substation (out in the stix) got stripped a couple of months ago. Fortunately the thieves got caught and are probably looking at a lengthy jail sentence.I'd like one of these toys!http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7210000/newsid_7214100/7214173.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&nol_storyid=7214173&bbcws=1

Tony Wood ● 6799d

Yes we would all like one of those!

Peter Wright ● 6799d

There will be an indoor domestic version sometime this year according to the British Toyfair.Meanwhile I'll have to play with my micro (150mm) long r/c helicopter.

Alan Brainsby ● 6799d

Drones to tackle cable theftBritish Transport Police have begun using tiny helicopters known as microdrones to fight the rising theft of railway cable.Above is the copy associated with the BBC video item. Is it a pun or are the drones armed? The word in question is really "rising", increasing would have been a better choice.

Alan Brainsby ● 6799d

Great little machine!Just one theft of cable around here was at Gunnersbury in January: http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=travel.htmOtherwise I think there are plenty of cowboy builders as the original poster suggested.  Let alone the unlicensed man with a van.Householders' Council Tax includes waste collection.  Business Rates do not.It is also quite likely that somewhere there should be registered as a maker of hazardous waste and isn't.http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waste/?lang=_e

Philippa Bond ● 6799d

Sheila, re your garden bonfire thought - I shouldn't say this but I quite like the aroma of occasional autumn garden bonfires. Quite like the smell of our neighbour's BBQ too, especially when they're grilling sardines on charcoal and they invite us in for a taste! Reminds me of happy days on the beach at Benidorm.

Gerry Tan ● 6798d