Rubbish

16th Dec 2007
There is no rubbish collection service here. No tip. No recycling. No council to complain to. My rubbish is my problem. I know this shouldn’t be a new concept- but I have to admit, having lived the last…15 years in the first world, its come as a bit of a surprise.

Compost goes in a hole in the back yard. When it’s full, we dig another one. Glass soft-drink bottles get returned to the shop for a 25 kwacha refund (~15c?). The rest gets burnt. You don’t feel very proud of yourself tending a fire belching black plastic-burning smoke into the atmosphere…but is it really any worse than burying it in a tip? Time capsules of pollution. Thoughts and comments on this matter are welcome.