Recycling transported hundreds of miles to be sorted

A link sent to me by a friend (thanks Dave) about recycling in my home town of Hull.  Apparently much of it is transported up to 250 miles away to be sorted.

Which begs the question: is it worth it? Are the air miles and energy required for recycling really good for the environment, or just a PR exercise to sooth troubled consciences (as so many environmental initiatives are)?

You can read the full article here:

County's recycled rubbish will be shipped hundreds of miles to be sorted

Staples in paper recycling: OK or not?

I recently had an argument (well heated discussion) with somebody about whether it is OK to leave staples in paper before putting it into the recycling bin.  I thought it was fine; she thought it was bad etiquette and just gave the good folks at the recycling plant more work to do.

Well, after some research, I have discovered the truth.

It is, in fact, fine to leave staples in.  During the recycling process, paper is reduced to a mushy pulp and a strong magnet is used to pluck out staples and other bits of metal. 

So there is no need to sit ripping all the corners off millions of bits of paper.

Now, I will go and glow in my self righteousness... :-)