Illustration of empty toothpaste tubes which are not locally recyclable
Environmentally friendly, Plastic Free, Renewable Resources, Saving the Planet

Plastic Pollution1 – WE are the Solution

Bo Nightingale

Part 1 of 5.

Confession

I have a confession to share with you

 – I am a collector

It all started normally enough.  First it was postage stamps

Australian Antarctic Territory 35 cent stamp with an image of a red ship by MS Nella Dan.MV Nella Dan was one of the famous 'Dan' ships of the Danish J. Lauritzen A/S Lines that were almost synonymous with ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Nella_Dan

 Then Old and foreign Coins 

15 British and French old coins including 2 with holes in the centre

Then Brooke Bond Tea Cards

Images of the front of Brooke Bond Tea cards and the reverse of the Wonders of Life Series of 50 and Inventors and Inventions Series of 50.

As a teenager I collected the little card entrance tickets from the Chippenham open air swimming pool where I spent many hot summers touting for potential boyfriends!

A photo of the Chippenham open air swimming pool taken in the 1970's surrounded by images of the card entrance ticket

Then I married and collected three children –   well actually they were delivered!

Three little bears representing my three children

More recently my collections are a little more….. eclectic ……. 

Currently I collect …… Toothpaste tubes.   

home made images of squeezed out toothpaste tubes with the word toothpaste across each.

You may ask why I collect Toothpaste tubes and keep them very visible in my bathroom?

Because they annoy me!

Socially we have patted ourselves on the back for removing single use plastic such as straws, and takeaway knives and forks.   

But when did you last hear of a refillable toothpaste tube?

Never!

In the early 2000’s my local UK District Council advertised that they recycled plastic bottles.

But what about  all  the  other  plastic   items ……. including my plastic toothpaste tubes?

These were not on the list of items collected by the District Council’s fortnightly recycling lorries.

I refused to put my recyclable toothpaste tubes into the black refuse bin for incineration

So I have collected a significant number of single use plastic items

So, where does plastic come from ? That is a really good Question

So, where does plastic come from ? That is a really good Question.

Next …….. Part 2. When the numbers ADD UP!

A narrated video version of these posts, less the chemistry, is available on YouTube

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Published by Bo Nightingale

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