Comments on: Putrescible Waste http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/ Sarah and Alaric Snell-Pym living in interesting times Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:26:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Matthew http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/comment-page-1/#comment-29561 Matthew Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:22:32 +0000 http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/#comment-29561 <p>But in the not-so-distant future, there will be cars that are powered on waste material such as this, providing such a power source that it enables amongst other things time-travel. Maybe this is just the sort of thing that needs to be made publically so a long-haired mad-scientist can develop it? Rather than having to fight the Libyans for plutonium - it seems much more appealing!</p> But in the not-so-distant future, there will be cars that are powered on waste material such as this, providing such a power source that it enables amongst other things time-travel. Maybe this is just the sort of thing that needs to be made publically so a long-haired mad-scientist can develop it? Rather than having to fight the Libyans for plutonium - it seems much more appealing!

]]> By: @ndy Macolleague http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/comment-page-1/#comment-29552 @ndy Macolleague Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:07:43 +0000 http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/#comment-29552 <p>You have land... set up a larger composting plant and then sell compost. You could probably negotiate with the resturants to find out how much their paying for commercial waste services and then take organic matter away for less.</p> You have land... set up a larger composting plant and then sell compost. You could probably negotiate with the resturants to find out how much their paying for commercial waste services and then take organic matter away for less.

]]> By: Charlee http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/comment-page-1/#comment-29537 Charlee Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:34:48 +0000 http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/#comment-29537 <p>I'm with you on this. It really upsets me how much waste they generate. The government requires industry to recycle a percentage of it's produce etc, why do they not put this requirement on commerce? Some councils are considering charging households per bag of non-recyclable waste, why not start with the shops? And don't get me started on how much it pained me to see cafes throwing away perfectly good food each night, when there were homeless guys starving on the street.</p> I'm with you on this. It really upsets me how much waste they generate. The government requires industry to recycle a percentage of it's produce etc, why do they not put this requirement on commerce? Some councils are considering charging households per bag of non-recyclable waste, why not start with the shops? And don't get me started on how much it pained me to see cafes throwing away perfectly good food each night, when there were homeless guys starving on the street.

]]> By: Ben http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/comment-page-1/#comment-29531 Ben Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:20:02 +0000 http://www.snell-pym.org.uk/archives/2007/03/19/putrescible-waste/#comment-29531 <p>Actually it's quite sensible for the restaurants, a classic externality. Because they are not compelled to do the right thing, and it is even slightly more expensive to do the right thing, they don't.</p> <p>Eventually someone else will pay the cost, the "tax payer" to pick up extra waste and future generations to clean up the mess. But it isn't the company, so they make more money now.</p> <p>It is a well established business principle to take advantage of as many externalities as possible. This explains, for example, why the planet is so polluted and why computers are so insecure.</p> Actually it's quite sensible for the restaurants, a classic externality. Because they are not compelled to do the right thing, and it is even slightly more expensive to do the right thing, they don't.

Eventually someone else will pay the cost, the "tax payer" to pick up extra waste and future generations to clean up the mess. But it isn't the company, so they make more money now.

It is a well established business principle to take advantage of as many externalities as possible. This explains, for example, why the planet is so polluted and why computers are so insecure.

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