Our lives are becoming ever more disposable. We expect to replace our mobile phones every two years when the contract runs out; our televisions must be of the highest definition; our computers the smallest and lightest we can afford.
When we eat, the quickest and most convenient foods are those which have layers of packaging.
All these conveniences eventually cost us more than the initial outlay.
The environmental toll of the waste produced by our lifestyles must be paid when it comes to disposing of these items.
Reducing or eliminating tip fees will only encourage people to dispose of more rubbish instead of teaching them to think about how to recycle or reuse.
In some cases, consumers should be asking themselves if an item really needs to be updated or if there is an alternative that will ultimately create less landfill.
Reaction on the Mercury’s website to yesterday’s illegal dumping story indicated some residents think tip fees are too high.
What needs to be taken into account is that our tips are a valuable resource in themselves.
Available land to dump waste is in limited supply and, like any scarce resource, space at the tip must be priced accordingly.
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