The ozone layer and global warming have become a big issue over the last few years.  More and more people are becoming aware of the need to recycle and reduce our carbon emissions.  Blue paper bins have been provided to most households in the United Kingdom, and there are many recycling drop off points to encourage people to recycle items such as glass, plastic and tin cans.  Composting is also encouraged to make use of vegetable peelings, egg boxes, egg shells, grass and hedge clipping and general garden waste.  This eventually (if turned properly) recreates itself as compost, which can be used on the garden.  Composting and recycling is a great way of reducing the amount of rubbish which goes to land fill.  Land fill rubbish lets off a vast amount of emissions in to the air.  Without a second thought over the latter 30 years people have just thrown away rubbish, which could be recycled.

Nappies are a big issue in landfills, and the use of the old Terry Towelling nappy is being encouraged by the Government.  The Terry nappy used to be a struggle to put on with the old nappy pins, and a pain to wash.  The disposable nappies were a great alternative to the old Terry nappy and people preferred the convenience of using them, but all of this convenience has taken its toll, and the landfills are getting full.  Other contributing factors to the overfilling of landfill is the use of supermarket packaging.  This is a big issue.  The supermarket use boxes on top of yogurt pots, plastic packaging around tomatoes, vegetables and meat, and although they claim they have reduced this, it is hard to see where.  On an average weekly grocery shop the amount of packaging which products come in can be overwhelming.  Supermarkets also give out an immense amount of plastic bags, they are however trying to encourage customers to reuse bags, but it seems very hard to break the habit of using 10 new carrier bags each time we shop.

Modern day appliances and electrical items have also been to blame in the demise of the ozone layer.  Appliances such as fridge freezers, washers, dryers, wine cooler (Weinkühlschränke) and televisions have all ended up somewhere, and the Landfill is one of the many places which electrical items end their lives.

Cars are possibly the cause of the most pollution in the world at present.  Many of the big gas guzzlers, add ten fold to the polar ice cap melting and are the biggest effect on global warming and the ozone layer.  Human’s though are very selfish and care only about what is happening in this day and age, and do not consider the consequences of what will happen in say 100 years time.

But for now as the summer draws ever closer, it is hoped that a fair amount of sunshine is to be had this year, and that us humans can enjoy plenty of barbecues and the chance to use the odd gadget such as a wine cooler (Weintemperierschrank).