Recycling pathway plastics
Dear Echo News,
I wish to express my deep concern regarding the plastic waste that we are forced to place in the present green or red topped bins.
When the major supermarket chains offered the soft plastics recycling facilities, I and many of the people I relate to were very happy to support this option and see the waste going through a recycle program.
The unfortunate demise of this was extremely distressing. What was obvious though was that there was an industry and a market ready to take this challenge on board for soft plastics.
There needs to be pressure brought to bear through local, state and federal governments to set up programs that will address this problem.
There needs to be incentives to encourage both research in the science underpinning plastic recycling and then to industries to apply appropriate technology to take on recycling.
Finally, the wider problem of consumers identifying and recycling all plastics remains.
Legislation needs to be passed requiring all plastic products to be given a visible code marking to enable consumers to do the initial sorting.
In parallel with this, legislation must be put in place requiring all plastic products to have a compulsory recycling pathway.
Self-regulation for industry will not work.
Legislation with penalties for non-compliance must be introduced.
Ted
Mount Helena
--------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks from Cancer Council
Dear Echo News,
Cancer Council WA extends a huge thank you to the many thousands of people across WA who hosted or attended an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea event between February and June 2024.
It’s my pleasure to let you know our generous hosts raised over $1.5 million.
As WA’s leading cancer charity, we work across every aspect of every cancer, so the money raised helps fund our world-class research program, prevention and education, as well as support services for people and their families affected by cancer.
From everyone at Cancer Council WA, thank you Western Australia once again for your incredible support.
A Reid
Cancer Council WA
--------------------------------------------------------------------Aged care concerns
Dear Echo News,
It may not be ‘popular’ to comment adversely on aged care, but I don’t think all carers or care administrators are ‘angels’ and I believe the standard of care in many aged care ‘facilities’ is often far from acceptable.
And while few will say so publicly, I suggest some doctors, nurses, admin staff and even carers are a mix of patronising, rude and even uncaring and sometimes deliberately cover up their mistakes.
I’d go so far as to say that some occasions when patients are hurt are routinely ignored and/or downplayed to avoid criticism.
We all know that aged care workers are underpaid, making it harder to recruit good staff with real qualifications.
Aged care has become the gateway employment place for new migrants (especially female) who want to get a job – any job – and who accept sub-par pay and just do what they have to do to get along.
What’s rarely admitted is that language and communication is too often an issue, given that English is a second or third language for those working in aged care.
That’s not a criticism – most Australians only have one language – but it can mean that accents are very hard for older Australians to understand, given often totally different pronunciations of words.
Care of and for the aged must be raised as a priority, or we have to follow through on voluntary assisted dying, for those of us who don’t wish to spend our last few years living in fear, pain or mind-numbing boredom.
P Carman
Hovea
--------------------------------------------------------------------No need for roundabout
Dear Echo News,
Regarding the letter Council dithers on intersection (Echo News, July 5) by C Coulthard of Gooseberry Hill.
Railway Road and Elizabeth Street top end needs a roundabout like a hole in the head.
It’s best to close off that top section of Elizabeth Street below Railway Road junction and maybe a turn left at the Gooseberry Hill sign at Headingly Road too, for some Elizabeth Road traffic heading up the hill.
It would also be a good idea to indent the bus stops adjacent the ambulance buildings for smooth traffic flow to Railway Road and clear signage for the Hospital Road commuters off Railway Road.
Most bus stops on main roads in the hills need indenting for clear traffic flow.
In particular, Canning Road, Lesmurdie Road, and Railway Road.
That would be money well spent.
More thought is also needed regarding bus shelter designs over time and their siting too, along with crossovers and lighting in winter time.
R Wood
Lesmurdie
