The sad little river.

[Wild-Woman]

Today I had a group of students that were learning about rivers. Fab- one of my favourite subjects. Until we reached the river.

Someone had gone out of their way to dump- a wheelie bin, a bike, a childs sit and ride toy, some twisted metal, a chemical canister AND a microwave oven.

For someone to do this, they would have had to travel some considerable distance with this stuff to do what they did.

My big puzzling question is simply WHY?

If they couldn't get it to a dump, the council will collect it, or, failing that and something I wouldn't do myself, but I have seen happen, is people just put it out on the pavement and deny its theirs but at least the council can remove it fairly easily.

I just don't understand it.

Can someone enlighten me as to the mentality of people who do this sort of thing.

[Hedgehoggy]

What a depressing sight that must have been . I don’t understand this mindset either. I once spotted a discarded microwave just inside the entrance of a NR . The person would have had to negotiate a steepish footpath to carry it there from the secluded carpark!

I wonder if these are ‘professional flytippers’ who take folk’s money to supposedly dispose of these items safely at the amenity tips, but instead of paying the charges to dispose of trade waste at amenity tips, they keep all the money and dump it elsewhere

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Today I had a group of students that were learning about rivers. Fab- one of my favourite subjects. Until we reached the river.

Someone had gone out of their way to dump- a wheelie bin, a bike, a childs sit and ride toy, some twisted metal, a chemical canister AND a microwave oven.

For someone to do this, they would have had to travel some considerable distance with this stuff to do what they did.

My big puzzling question is simply WHY?

If they couldn't get it to a dump, the council will collect it, or, failing that and something I wouldn't do myself, but I have seen happen, is people just put it out on the pavement and deny its theirs but at least the council can remove it fairly easily.

I just don't understand it.

Can someone enlighten me as to the mentality of people who do this sort of thing.

Here they (the council) send out a Transit-type flat bed lorry, you can dispose of up to five named items for £25-£30, up front. If they don't like any of the items (too big, too heavy, wrong colour) you are out of pocket and left with the item/s
It is still no excuse though to dump rubbish, many give "a bloke they know" a £5 to take it to the dump. The "bloke" does not like waiting in queues and dumps it anywhere convenient when no one is looking. It is an increasing problem for people without cars, and easy money for the "bloke" It costs the councils a fortune every year, they can sometimes trace the rubbish back to whence it came but not to the "bloke"

[htcdude]

It's sad to hear of these things, even worse when you see it happen but can't do anything! Last Saturday we hired a small boat and went up the Thames a little, just as we were coming to a bridge a big white van stopped on it, threw out a large bag of rubbish and sped off! So annoyed I couldn't get his plates!

Nige

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by nightshade

when no one is looking

And that's the reason why it happens out in country lanes, nature reserves, and so on. Everywhere else is full of cctv cameras. Which doesn't explain why things are so often dumped in rivers. I have two theories: 1. The people responsible have never grown up and are like little children who love to throw stones into water just to see the splash, or 2. They are deliberately making it more difficult, unpleasant and expensive for those who have to clean up after them.

Dave P.

[Deb London]

I'd say that maybe the reason is that from a distance the items are out of sight. If they were spotted leaving a visible heap of junk then it would be more likely that someone reported them.

I hate this sort of thing. I chased after a dog walker who dropped a bag the other day. I'd probably lose the plot if I found someone doing this.

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by pressld2

And that's the reason why it happens out in country lanes, nature reserves, and so on. Everywhere else is full of cctv cameras. Which doesn't explain why things are so often dumped in rivers. I have two theories: 1. The people responsible have never grown up and are like little children who love to throw stones into water just to see the splash, or 2. They are deliberately making it more difficult, unpleasant and expensive for those who have to clean up after them.

Dave P.

My theory is that children increasingly are not allowed to play in fields, woods or even parks. Instead they are escorted to and from school, and taken to ballet, music lessons, sport, etc, and then escorted home again to play on the computer, watch tv, do their homework and go to bed. I really believe that if children are allowed to play outside, get dirty, find out about our countryside and wildlife, and go for walks with their parents - then they appreciate and value nature more, and look after it. I know this isnt as easy in towns as in the country, but even so most people have gardens or access to parks. It's really a shame. We are doing our children a terrible disservice by over-protecting them, and insulating them from the wonders and beauties that surround them.

Rant over. Karen

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by pressld2

They are deliberately making it more difficult, unpleasant and expensive for those who have to clean up after them.

I think you're mainly right here Dave, it's almost like they're making a statement.
'I can do what I like, where I like and if you don't like it, tough'.

The positive that did come out of our river investigation was that most of the pupils made remarks like- Why do they do it? And Does it hurt the wildlife? And Some people are sad!
So in a way, these youngsters were so horrified by what they saw, but were mature enough to recognise environmental abuse and abhorred it.

There's always hope.

[nightshade]

Children are not allowed to talk to anybody nowadays so information cannot trickle down from old people to grandchildren the way it used to.
Every child has a mobile phone so they don't have to see even their friends face to face, parents drive them to school and home again. It is very sad.

[bigdave60dog]

Folk advertise various services -one of which is clearing away rubbish. They charge good money to take rubbish away and also charge to dispose of it -usually saying that "the Council" charge for vans to tip at the site.
They then go home have their tea and drive to secluded spot in darkness to dump the load for free, pocketing the tipping charge for themselves.
It`s always gone on. Probably always will. If you own or are responsible for secluded bit of land in the country you will end up feeling distinctively ungenerous toward such people.
Dave