WORLDbytes – The School of Citizen TV - Don't shout at the telly – change the message on it!

Catriona said:

I admire the guts of this video in it’s obvious attempt to go against the grain of accepted views on recycling. The video unearths the fact that often people carry out recycling more as a way to expunge guilt about the environment, rather than doing so because we know these actions to be beneficial (just see the comments left by viewers). I think the video could have set out it’s efforts more clearly, perhaps in a debate or using sub chapters that aimed to debunk certain ‘recycling myths’. This would have required more research, but would give the piece more credibility and more interest. Just 5 minutes of internet research, and I came across an article that described how recycled plastics from the UK are shipped to China – doesn’t sound very environmentally friendly does it? Household recycling is an ambiguous topic which demonstrates that environmental issues as a whole need more rigourous scrutiny, which unfortunately Joe doesn’t deliver.

Martyna said:

I am pro-recycling and what Joe says worries me. He says we can hide the rubbish beneath us, but what about plastic which is non-degradable? Won’t that have a negative effect on the environment? His point of view is interesting as I’ve never heard this perspective before so I am definitely going to research it. Nevertheless I remain sceptical. Promoting recycling also promotes an awareness of the environment and that actions have consequences. Therefore, the act of recycling stretches further than a time consuming (although, it doesn’t actually take that long!) chore.

Daisy said:

Very interesting! Great to finally hear someone talking about why not to recycle. Everytime I’m washing my morning marmalade jars to get them ready for recycling, I wonder why I’m wasting so much water on cleaning garbage. They are being melted at such high temperatures that it will instantly make the traces of jam disappear anyway.
Though it’s quite daring and original to approach the subject from this point of view, I think it could have provoked more discussion if their was more depth into the story and some proof of what he is saying is actually true.

Anastasia Brindley said:

I agree with what others have said, people need to put more effort into things like this, not that I can talk… I try to recycle as much as I can, but I don’t do everything.

Simin Cox said:

The documentary made by Joe Kaplinsky appears to be based more on his opinions than on any facts. As he mentioned, “individuals recycling their own waste will not have a big impact on the overall situation”. Green issues and pollution are currently amongst the hottest topics of discussion in our daily life. To belittle the issue of domestic recycling and to promote the importance of ship breaking is quite frankly naive. I am finding it hard to believe that the recycling of a few ships every year can be considered more important than the recycling of every individual’s waste in the developed world.

All forms of recycling and waste efficiency are clearly important.

Tunde Ajala said:

This is an important note on why we need recycling and why the poor might find it expensive i do agree on why we need more machines for our rubbish and i do agree that investing scale in recycling may be a solution to our rubbish.

Alex Smith said:

This short piece possibly says enough to make the viewer reconsider the value of household recycling. It’s briefness and lack of evidence and credibility of Joe Kaplinsky fails to ensure a factual content to the audience, which is essential for the programmes reliability.
I also struggle to see the purpose of the video. I believe there is a wealth of issues that are unsatisfactorily reported on. Firstly he claims industrial recycling is more valuable, and yet there is no recognition of the UK’s current attempts at such recycling. If there was such industrial recycling heavily present in the UK perhaps the government would appear less ‘cheeky’ to include the nation in various national recycling programmes. Secondly, the triviality of household recycling is based on materiality, with no recognition for the positive aspects of engaging individuals with their own waste.
Finally, the quality of the sound is poor, and Joe appears uncomfortable which denotes both lack of confidence and experience.

Overall I would have much preferred to see this issue tackled as a debate, so Joe could answer the questions so many of the other viewers and I were left with – most obviously ‘how do we condense such vasts amount of rubbish into small spaces?’.

Kassandra Gordon said:

This is very interesting. I have always thought recycling was good. This clip will prompt me to do some research around what Joe said. It would be helpful to know where did he get his facts from .

kelly said:

I still think that recycling should be a prominant part of our lives, as anything that is beneficial in reducing waste or that can be re-used is surley a good thing? I’m not sure if it is as simple as burying it.

Eleanor Harrington said:

I agree with an increased industrialisation of recycling, yet I disagree with the idea of ‘chilling out’ over recycling over waste. I big problem in our society is wasting produce and the globalisation of over farming leaving land taking precious resources such as water for out benefit. By making Britain more concious on exactly what it is consuming and becoming more aware of its effects, can not be necessarily a wasted thing surely?

Charles Coombs said:

Joe is correct regarding industrial waste, but communities that recycle are protecting their environment above and beneath the earth. Air and water are our essentials for human life. Percentages have little to do with a mind-shift and new habits that recycling produces anywhere in the world.

zett said:

I think Joe has a few good points, but I don’t agree everything he says. High tech methods for recycling should be developed to deal with trash economically and environment friendly, but during this, the little things people can do should not be forgotten. Sorting rubbish is a tiny effort, so why not do it? What’s the problem, as long as it’s not used as an excuse? There are two ways to improve things: Great scale industrial development and the contribution of people in their everyday life. Both methods are important.

SarahMate... said:

Recycling some material like plastic sounds good to me. Because plastic is made out of petrol and we all know that there are petrol shortages nowadays.

muchi said:

Personnaly, I think it’s a tiny little effort to sort the rubbish

mariaber... said:

Well thats a relief I always had an inkling that personal household recycling was a complete waste of time and I’m not lazy I just hate the idea that what we are doing at a personal level is an excuse for not solving things at a society wide level..well said Mr chill out.