Berwick Area Heart Support Group
August 2008 newsletter
Berwick Area Heart Support Group Next meeting Wednesday August 6th (note change of venue ) we are combining the meeting with the Walking for Health group and instead of our usual walk around Berwick we are going out to Etal for a change. Individuals can either make their own way direct to Etal for 7.00pm or be at Hospital car park for 6.25pm.
There will be a few of the group needing transport to Etal so anyone who can help and has a spare seat in their car please phone me by Sunday 3rd Aug. also people needing transport phone me by 3rd Aug and we will arrange lifts where possible Terry 01890781087
Many thanks to Marjorie for her help at the promotional day for High Blood Pressure held at the Jus Rol on the 10th July
Phil&Terry
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Firstly, I know Terry probably will have already put in a bit about the walk at Etal instead of an indoor meeting for August, but just in case it does not get mentioned, anyone requiring a lift, please be at the hospital car park by 6.25 pm. This is so the necessary forms can be filled in for insurance reasons. If you have been on previous walks, all that’s needed is a signature, but if you have never been there is a more detailed form to be completed.
You are, of course free to make you own way to Etal, and someone will get your details on arrival.
I do not know where we will be walking, but flattish, comfortable shoes should suffice.
As in the past we are being joined by the Walking for Health Group. We all need to be all at Etal Castle car park by 7pm. Wally
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Wally’s Yarn
electric !!
A guy goes to the Council to apply for a job as an electrician.
The interviewer says: "Recruitment is done on a points system; have you been in the armed services?"
"Yes," he says "I was in the army for three years and served in Iraq ."
The interviewer says "Great; that will give you extra points toward employment"
And then asks "were you trained as an electrician?"
The guy says "Yes I have all my papers."
"Brilliant, more points in your favour. Finally he asks: "Are you disabled in any way?"
The guy replies: "Unfortunately: 100%... a mortar round exploded near me and blew my testicles off."
The interviewer tells the guy "No problem; further points towards employment. OK. I can hire you right now. The hours are from 8:00 am to 4:00pm. You can start tomorrow. Come in at 10:00 AM."
The recruit is puzzled and says "If the hours are from 8:00 AM. To 4:00 pm, then why do you want me to come in at 10:00 AM?"
"This is a council job" the interviewer replies. "For the first two hours we sit around scratching our balls....... not really worth you coming in for that."
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July’s Meeting
Our speaker for July was Kathleen McNish, Technical Officer with The Environmental Health Department at Berwick Borough Council. During the last 20 years she has had various jobs at the Council, mainly involving health related matters, in 2003 she took charge of recycling, which is what she spoke about at the meeting. This was arranged at short notice, and whilst not what you may call a heart related subject, it was very interesting, and generated many questions from the group.
As most of us know we have a two bin system, a black bin for non recyclable waste, which is destined for the land fill, and a blue bin which is for recyclables. Each collected on alternative weeks.
What many of us might not know is that there is also a brown lidded bin. This is for recyclable garden waste. This is collected fortnightly on a Saturday, by a private contractor, and currently is taken to Shoreswood area, to be composted. In 2006 only 24 tonnes were collected. This rose to over 118 tonnes from 365 houses in 2007. This service is mainly confined to the town area; if you would like more details contact Kathleen at the Council Offices, or ring either 01289 301734 or 301825.
Various other collection points are located around the town, mainly at the big shops, and some of the town car parks, and the transfer station on the North Road Trading Estate, where you can put all manner of things ie. Coloured glass, clear glass, clothes, shoes hardcore, electrical goods, batteries, used oil, wood, metal, even rubble. The list seems endless.
Last year Berwick’s target for recycled waste was 26%, we managed 25%. These figures change each year, and are set by Defra. Who monitor all such schemes, and as targets are reached so they increase it for the following year.
Throughout the Borough we each average 500 kilos of rubbish each year. 10% of all waste which goes to landfill is glass, which as we know is very recyclable, but has to be treated differently, in that you have to take it to one of the collection points.
Spare a thought for a town in China, where every resident has to take all their own rubbish to a central collecting point. It is only accepted when it is clean, and they have to sort their own waste it into 34 different recycling bins. Needless to say very little actually goes to a landfill site. I heard that story on the National News a couple of nights ago.
The list of recyclable item does change over time. Here are some “dos” and “don’ts”
YES
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PAPER
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CARDBOARD
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CANS
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PLASTIC BOTTLES
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Newspapers
Cardboard
Magazines
Leaflets
Unwanted mail
Books
Envelopes
Catalogues
Telephone Directories
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Clean cardboard
packaging, (eg. Cereal boxes, egg boxes, kitchen roll tubes)
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Food cans, (eg. Bean cans, soup cans) washed and clean
Drinks cans
(eg. Fizzy drinks cans, beer cans)
Aerosols (EMPTY)
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Drinks bottles
Plastic milk bottles
Shampoo bottles
Washing up bottles
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Place all items loosely in the bin; remove all string, tape, and plastic covers and plastic bags. Rinse out all cans and bottles, and remove lids from bottles and squash plastic bottle when possible
NO
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PAPER
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CARDBOARD
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CANS
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PLASTIC
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Envelopes with windows
Padded envelopes
Crisp packets
Polystyrene packaging
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Tetrapaks
(eg. Fruit juice cartons, milk cartons) due to their construction they contain either metal or plastic liners, and are unsuitable for recycling.
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Old paint cans
Oil cans
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Plastic bags
Yoghurt pots
Margarine tubs
Ice cream tubs
Plastic film
Plant pots
Plastic toys
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Do not put glass or textiles into your bin. Clean glass bottles and jars can be taken to the nearest collection point
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