What do you do to help the environment?

[paul m]

It's recycle week in the UK apparently. There's a worthwhile site to go with it ....
Recycle now - Recycle Now - where and how to recycle - Official UK recycling campaign

[chris butterworth]

Originally Posted by bhumz

hybrid cars which reduced the fuel inefficiency and avoid using plastic bags

The one major problem with hybrid cars ( Pr**s in particular ) is that the amount of energy used to produce the batteries is horrendous. The minerals are mined in China, the ore is sent to the US to be refined, the refined metal is then sent back to China to be made into batteries ( disposal of those batteries, they only last about 10 years, is another consideration ) then shipped back to the US to be fitted into the cars, which are then shipped around the world for sale. Using a 25+ year old car, and keeping it on the road using second hand parts, is far more ecologically sound.

Chris

[basquesteve]

Originally Posted by chris butterworth

The one major problem with hybrid cars ( Pr**s in particular ) is that the amount of energy used to produce the batteries is horrendous. The minerals are mined in China, the ore is sent to the US to be refined, the refined metal is then sent back to China to be made into batteries ( disposal of those batteries, they only last about 10 years, is another consideration ) then shipped back to the US to be fitted into the cars, which are then shipped around the world for sale. Using a 25+ year old car, and keeping it on the road using second hand parts, is far more ecologically sound.

Chris

I totally agree We brought our 1990 AXGT 1.4 here 16 years ago having covered 250,000 miles on the original engine its still going strong Pyrenees to Manchester same day

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[chris butterworth]

Originally Posted by bhumz

hybrid cars which reduced the fuel inefficiency

........... and a final point about 'hybrid' fuelled cars is that, although they may appear to be 'fuel efficient' in comparison to the big V8 'gas guzzlers' in North America, they don't really increase the mpg on 'smaller' European / Japanese cars as the engines have to both power the car AND recharge the batteries. Hybrid technology sounds good, in principle, but in the real world it falls woefully short. Hydrogen fuel cells - now that's another matter ( once we can produce hydrogen without using masses of electricity).

Chris

[chris butterworth]

........... and a way to lessen the amount of waste paper etc. generated by your household. Any extra packaging that comes with things bought at the supermarket ( shopping in local shops is better, I know. ), unpack it at the checkout and let them dispose of it. Perhaps they might start to use less packaging if we all did that.

Chris