The Big Plastic Count

I'm probably going to get a load of flack here, but what's the difference between authorities recycling plastic waste by incinerating it for heat,and me using a small amount  of my plastic waste to light my woodburner?

I wouldn't put any plastic on a fire at home as the chimney stack isn't high enough. I use 2 sheets of newspaper (don't buy a newspaper these days so use free ones from supermarkets but need to be economical with it), some pieces of screwed up cardboard and a few twigs to start a fire.

I've signed up for the plastic count and almost persuaded a neighbour to do the same.

We're due to have a weekly food waste collection,  in the past week we've only thrown out  Mackerel skin.

Mackeral skins would deffo go in the woodburner here, along with fish guts and heads. I don't want them stinking the place out and it's the quickest option to dispose!

That was also  Mr.B’s suggestion I didn’t fancy the smell so it went in a bread bag then the general waste  bin.

We are about to get food waste bins, like Veggie, a small one for the house, which is OK and can replace the bucket I'm using right now, and a 140l one for outside which I don't want and have no room for. I really don't want it standing outside the front door which is about the only place it could go....although maybe I could put it in the back garden as an extra water butt....

Like Bren I usually throw out mackerel skin, but this week I buried it in the compost bin, just to see how long it will take to disappear.

Does anyone know how to count online rather then printing out the page.

' You can also count online. Visit the submission page to save your results as you go and submit them by Sunday 22 March '

I've been back to the site and its looking like you can't count on line just yet.

'COUNTING STARTS SOON
You won’t be able to submit your plastic count just yet – but you’re in the right place.

Thousands of people across the UK are getting ready to take part in The Big Plastic Count 2026. As soon as submissions open, this page will unlock.

Make sure you’re signed up so you don’t miss out.'

We start today

I decided against adding each item online as I go, my sheets now taped to the wall above the kitchen bin.

I'll collect mine and add them up at the end of the week.

Ready steady go! I have a confession, I did my count last month, I wrote in on the calendar for Feb instead of March. I did wonder why there wasn't any publicity . I'm all ready to do it again.

That’s good. You can do your own analysis. See if some weeks you use more plastic than others. It’ll be interesting to know if you use more or less than you did last month or if it’s pretty much the same.