In Suffolk we are very lucky in that our general rubbish, that is everything that isn't reclaimed, recycled or composted, goes to be incinerated to produce electricity.
SUEZ recycling and recovery UK works with Suffolk County Council to manage the household waste that's generated across the county every day. The County Council is part of the Suffolk Waste Partnership working together with the seven district and borough councils who collect waste.
By diverting waste from landfill, recovering valuable energy from the waste left after recycling and reducing the county’s dependence on fossil fuels, the facility also supports SUEZ’s aim to live in a society where there is no more waste and Suffolk County Council’s ambition to make Suffolk the greenest county.
She said that despite the fact that hardly anything in Suffolk is wasted it would still be better if less new stuff was bought in the first place which would save even more power and water.
It was a fascinating meeting and we asked lots of questions.
Followed by coffee and cakes of course
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Had to have a change of venue for Octobers meeting, I hadn't seen the email telling me (later found it had gone into junk) so drove to the village hall, only to find the car park all dug up, a digger standing among heaps of dirt and no meeting. I hadn't got a phone number on my phone for anyone except SiL who was away on holiday anyway so started back home but as I passed the secretaries house I saw her about to come out of her drive so did a quick turn round and followed her down the road to the treasurers house and found everyone squashed into her Breakfast room ( it's a B&B in a farmhouse).
The meeting was all about "The Night Sky", and given by an amateur photographer who only got interested in Astronomy 6 years ago, but now runs courses and is involved with several astronomy societies.
He had some fantastic photos and started by telling us that we didn't need to spend a fortune on a telescope as so many things can be seen with a normal pair of binoculars.
Then he went through all the planets and constellations, telling us when we could see them and giving us an idea of just how far away everything is. We heard about comets and meteors too.
He said that you needed the darkest place - often on the coast, and needed to be out in the dark for 30 minutes to get your eyes acclimatised. Then the best thing to do was to lay back on a recliner with a telescope or binoculars and start looking. Now of course things are easier as there are apps on phones that can tell you what you are looking at.
Another interesting meeting with coffee and cakes again.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Good that you got to the meeting despite venue change. I love the fact that we have less light pollution here in East Anglia, so we can see the night skies full of stars. Once I retire here, I hope to improve my astronomical skills. I'm pleased that so many local authorities are more efficient at waste disposal now, but your speaker was quite right - we should buy less in the first place
ReplyDeleteI was talking to my friend last night about reusing and recycling.The reason being that a family that live near me have just had every thing from beds,wardrobes,settees,towels,bedding etc...all brand new ...given them for free.And I have seen this happen before over the years.Within a mile of where I live there are at least 5 charity shops that sell good quality second hand furniture for a fraction of the new price and its reusing and going to a good cause.I really dont know why the people...council?...dont consider this option first!!xx
ReplyDeleteThat's something I like about the WI (my mother was a member); if the village hall is out of action, just move to a members' sitting room. Nothing stops them.
ReplyDeleteThat was a lucky sighting. I'm glad you got there because it sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeletexx
That is very interesting as my Dad bought us a telescope a few months ago (too cheap not to buy in the middle aisle of Lidl!) and we haven't used it. I really must try it out as I still have my I Spy The Night Sky book! xx
ReplyDeleteInteresting evening at the WI it's lovely to see the stars now since I have moved. I remember when I was a guide we learnt lots of names of the stars.
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk
Both the talks sound very interesting. There's a charity in Manchester that used to take good quality second hand toys in for children but a few years ago they decided only brand new in packaging could be donated. Such a shame as we'd given some really good stuff to them in the past. Seems even some charities are part of the problem these days. xx
ReplyDeleteLovely to know that your recycling is working. And yes, as always, if we humans would be more happy, with what we have. And didn't *need* to buy more 'stuff'... -smile-
ReplyDeleteWhat a great meeting, about astronomy, with hints, which we regular folks can use.
Cute Seasonal Header too!
Gentle hugs,
🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂
I miss seeing the stars now I live back in a city. As a child (on a farm) I would stand outside for ages staring at the stars, and looking up the different constellations. My mother stopped me in the end as she said I always ended up with tonsillitis from being outside in the cold!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is an astronomer and since retiring has been repairing/testing the telescopes donated to the charity shop. They get a lot. I think people get them as gifts and then don’t use them. They sell quickly at 10% of new price. It is a good way of trying out the hobby without spending a fortune or creating waste.
ReplyDeleteI love looking at the stars at night. I just wish I could take decent pictures of the night sky. I think I need a better camera.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Husband dabbles in astronomy, has a fancy telescope that he's taken up into the mountains to the dark sky. Has an attachment for his phone camera and he's had some great pictures. Son enjoys it as well.
ReplyDeleteFires all around here, air is full of smoke and most likely particulates. Cool enough at night to use the fireplace, but there is a burn ban, even here in the city. Air smells like a campfire. And winds are really blowing.
DH uses the app now to make sure what he thinks he is seeing is really what he sees (e.g., that he has the right planet in view.) Comes in handy especially when one is away from home.
ReplyDelete