Category archive: environment

We had to replace our beard trimmer because I dropped it and even after getting a replacement head it does not work properly. As in, it pulls your facial hair instead of trimming it, and often stops half-way through.

I did a little research online and it turns out that the one we have (a Philips QT4045 Turbo Vac Beard Trimmer) was not awarded particularly enthusiastic reviews because the rechargeable battery cannot be replaced, and it does not last forever.

So last night, after coming back with a new trimmer (the same again, there was not much choice in the shop), Dr B. took the old one apart and look what he found inside:

They look like two ordinary rechargeable AA batteries to me. But if they were replaceable the company would be out of business. Instead we are dumping another bit of plastic and metal and nickel-cadmium somewhere we'd rather not think about.

Civilisation as we know it is going to disappear under a mountain of discarded appliances.

I am trying to save the world, but they sure do not make my life easy.

The kitchen scales batteries had gone. It cost nine pounds to replace them. New scales, batteries included, cost as little as nine pound 99. I insisted in buying the batteries instead. Yes, I know there are scales that run without batteries, but they do not do five-gram increments, and they cannot be reset to zero every time you want to weigh another ingredient to add to the mix.

The kitchen tap handles have cracked and needed replacing. I've had no hot water in the kitchen for months now, and now the cold tap handle has gone too. Fifty pounds to replace handles and cartridges. New complete tap unit, as little as 49.99. We went for the handles only, also because we do not risk flooding half of South London while replacing the whole tap.

The hoover head is broken. Alright, I took it apart to clean it thoroughly (it was clogged with pine needles in early January) and could not figure out how to put it back together again. That particular model is discontinued and is nowhere to be found. I hope the nozzle diameter is sort of standard, and I shall try not to think too hard of that sexy Dyson I've set my sights on a while back.

I have always preferred sparingly furnished rooms – probably a reaction to my parents' house where whole rooms were dedicated to collect clutter.

However, I am guilty of buying cheap throwaway clothes, mostly at charity shops, some at H&M.

This means that once a year I take half of my clothes back, so last night I took a trip to my local clothes collection recycling facility.

The eight bags below contained:

• 16 t-shirts
• 9 polo shirts
• 4 shirts
• 3 trousers
• 3 jeans
• 1 pair of shorts
• 2 jumpers
• 4 pairs of shoes
• 1 duvet
• 3 cushions

They all went in here, not without considerable effort, as the four containers were rammed to the top:

And then I crossed the parking lot to Sainsbury's and bought more stuff.

A friend of mine who works for WWF yesterday sent me a link to the WWF Footprint Calculator. Turns out I am not so kind to Old Mother Nature after all. Here's the reply I sent my friend:

Thanks for the link to the footprint calculator. Another 3.09 planets [my test result] for me I'm afraid. Not particularly shocked, I knew travel was bad.

The thing is, I do more than your average guy to keep an eye on the environment: energy-saving light bulbs; UK cox apples instead of USA pink ladies; and recycle everything that can be recycled, even if our kitchen looks like a dump. I switch off lights, re-use things, avoid buying unnecessary junk, take regular trips to charity shops to give/buy stuff.

I'm the kind of person who carries three Tesco 'bags for life' in my backpack every day and always says no to carrier bags. I take home plastic bottles from work because we haven't got a recycling bin there! I'm not boasting or feeling particularly virtuous, I just think it would be stupid not to do so.

And still, it apparently is just a drop in the ocean. Very motivating :-/

Lx