Dispatches lifts the lid on nation’s rubbish habits

Waste management companies are set to be scrutinised tonight (October 4) as Channel 4's Dispatches programme investigates how the nation is tackling its growing waste problem.


Reporter Morland Sanders travels the UK in the wake of the Government’s Waste Review to attempt to find out whether waste management companies are doing enough to manage our rubbish effectively.

He finds householders angry about their bins not being collected every week and fly-tipping setting resident against resident. He asks whether as a nation, we can do more to help reduce the rubbish problem ourselves and sets a family the challenge of living without a bin for a fortnight.

On the high street, Sanders questions whether consumers are sold too much packaging with the things we buy, and sifts through litter to see who should be doing more to keep Britain tidy.

He also talks to the people who collect, sort and recycle our waste and discovers what happens to materials such as paper and plastics once they are collected. Among the questions being asked is whether profit wins out over green considerations.

The programme ‘Britain’s Rubbish’ will be screened on Channel 4 at 8.00pm.

Maxine Perella

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