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Roadside and layby litter and dumping...

(149 Posts)
granjura Tue 24-May-16 19:05:33

If I mention, with great sadness, that since we arrived in the UK 2 weeks ago- although we absolutely love the countryside, we are really upset about the amount of roadside litter and the fact that a large proportion of lya-bys or entrance to fields are full of dumped litter and rubbish of everykind- does that make us

- anti-British

- or sad that this beautiful countryside is spoilt by the dumpsters and litterers? because we love the UK so much?

granjura Thu 26-May-16 19:29:47

The problem with litter in Switzerland is mainly with the few large urban centres (yes, those with a very large number of immigrants or expats) - and mainly with the Summer parties season. Large groups of youngsters head to the park or beach for a BBQ- then go on clubbing and leave the left overs, etc, behind.

Flytipping is honestly non-existent- and yes, people do have to pay to get rid some large items and building waste. In fact the cost is often built-in the price of purchase, like with all electrical goods.

Just cannot fathom how anyone can say that it is unrealistic to think fly-tipping is not acceptable, truly.

We came across a lot of fly tipping and rubbish dumping on our visits to Sicily over last few years- just as sad and upsetting- but then we knew this has been a problem for a very long time, sadly.

Jalima Thu 26-May-16 19:40:03

Just cannot fathom how anyone can say that it is unrealistic to think fly-tipping is not acceptable, truly.
Has anyone actually said that, shock

granjura Thu 26-May-16 19:51:09

That comes close:

'I find it overly sentimental and out of touch with reality, a common characteristic of some expats who retain a rose-tinted view of the "dear old country".'

Jalima Thu 26-May-16 20:02:45

But one does not have to be accepting of a situation to know that it is reality.

granjura Thu 26-May-16 20:03:54

ffinnochio - I meant all expats who live near me, in rural France or Switzerland- again and again after any return visit to the UK. As said, sad.

granjura Thu 26-May-16 20:04:41

Posts crossed, the reality in some places and not others- that is the point.

Alea Thu 26-May-16 20:14:08

Nowhere near, actually, but if you are going to quote my post, I in fact said it was deplorable.
However I do not feel the need to cue violins and wax lyrical about this dear, dear country or what it has to do with "loving our English friends" (unless they are complicit in it)
Personally I like Italy a lot, but the graffiti in Rome is appalling and the stench of the rubbish heaps outside Naples a couple of years ago defied description but I am not going to shed crocodile tears over it. Nor would it stop me visiting it. Modern life has its ugly side. Look at Northern France or some of the industrial suburbs around Paris.
How reassuring though that the not inconsiderable problem in Switzerland as quoted in an earlier post Is down to immigrants and expats (!)

granjura Thu 26-May-16 20:27:32

Did you everf live in Rome, or around Paris? It's very different to comment on a country you've lived in for a very long time (in my case all my adult life)- or sowmewhere you go for a holiday, no?

How can you compare litter in the popular suburbs around Paris, with the linkecd deprivation, etc, and rural England???

Well Geneva has about 40% immigrants who come from countries where litter is part of everyday life- (as in Naples and Rome)- and it is only 'normal' that they find it more difficult to stick to the stringent rules and attitudes to litter, I'm afraid.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 26-May-16 20:48:06

I didn't notice a lot of litter in Rome. confused

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 26-May-16 20:49:30

A lot of people begging, and sleeping rough.

Suppose I wasn't looking for litter.

granjura Thu 26-May-16 20:50:07

Did you visit the popular suburbs - or stick to the touristy centre ;) ?

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 26-May-16 20:52:06

Yes. There is a lot of graffiti in European cities. Perhaps more than in London. I wonder why that is.

Alea Thu 26-May-16 20:52:58

Goodness this is going off at several tangents at once.
You are not uniquely qualified to comment on the UK just because you lived here for years. Everybody's experience is going to be different.
I do not argue with the existence of fly tipping, litter etc
What I do take issue with is your fallacious connection with your observation and being "anti-British" which of course you deny because of your declared affection for the UK.

. does that make us
anti-British
or sad that this beautiful countryside is spoilt by the dumpsters (sic) and litterers? because we love the UK so much
Well the answer to your first question is tout court NO, of course not. Nobody ever suggested it did.
Does it make you sad?
Probably.
It might make me angry.
So what.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 26-May-16 20:53:14

Oh just the main bit. We were only there for a few days. It was so nice. smile

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 26-May-16 20:54:11

I'm going to Portugal next week. Staying in Porto. Will definitely look for litter.

granjura Thu 26-May-16 21:02:22

Lucky lucky you- apparently Porto is beautiful and is next on our list - enjoy. As said, very different when you go on holiday or 'back home' (which is what the UK is for us- as well, as 'back home' here - and yes, the contrast is so obvious re litter, fact).

granjura Thu 26-May-16 21:06:58

Alea- yes, on other threads, it was definitely suggested- hence...

Makes me sad and angry to see it- and hear of other abuses- particularly of the NHS and social services- because, as said, they were the best in the world, for a very long time, and still could be- if they were not attacked at both ends (abusers and destroyers- one feeding the other).

granjura Thu 26-May-16 21:09:15

There was a member here on EF called Soutra who lived here in my area. I wonder if she experienced littering and fly-tipping around here? But she seems to have gone, so ...

Alea Thu 26-May-16 21:09:59

Oh for goodness sake! There are other members who have studied or lived in other countries you know. Or whose adult children have chosen to live and work in other parts of the world.
Some of us might (shock horror,) even be immigrants!
So this superior tone as you graciously educate us that it is very different to go on holiday or "back home" - echoes of the Raj - sounds suspiciously like teaching grannies to suck eggs.

Alea Thu 26-May-16 21:11:30

What is EF?
And is it in order to comment on one thread about something from another? Surely that constitutes threads about threads?

Ana Thu 26-May-16 21:14:22

I do hope it doesn't stand for 'English Forum'! hmm

Alea Thu 26-May-16 21:16:28

Or "Expat Forum"?

Alea Thu 26-May-16 21:29:02

confused
Yet again, no answer

Jalima Thu 26-May-16 21:41:03

DD worked for EF in several countries abroad. I will ask her if she saw any litter.

durhamjen Thu 26-May-16 21:47:25

For heavens sake. All Granjura was doing was complaining about the litter here. She's right.
It's terrible that if you are in a queue of traffic that hasn't moved for a while, someone in the car in front decides to clean out the car and throw litter out of the window.
It's terrible that people leave litter and flytip in lots of different places.
Rather than get at granjura, look for the flytipping round you, and complain to the council about it.
Unless, of course, you would rather live in a littered UK than accept what someone from Switzerland says.
Or unless you are a flytipper yourself.