DEREK Robinson writes about the launch of the Cup Movement in Glasgow ("A new move to meet the coffee cup challenge", Agenda, The Herald, March 7). He hopes that the message will get through and everyone start to behave responsibly and carry re-usable cups as part of their everyday "out-and-about" equipment. Not being a drinker of tea or coffee I have no need of cups but do sometimes buy a bottle of spring water when eating in a café or restaurant.
In 1985, visiting my daughter in Inverness, I bought such a small bottle of water but as I don’t drink from bottles I grabbed a free straw to use on the bus back to Skye. This straw is red and white-striped and has been a constant companion in my bag, since that far-off day. It does have a regular soak in boiling water, and has had a few snips off the ends to neaten it up a bit. Its duties are now shared with a brown, bendy straw acquired from the Students Union café at Glasgow University last year, when my elder grand-daughter graduated. It will be treasured for the happy memories of that day; and of course, it will help me to save the planet; a wee bit.
Friends who see the straws are amused by them, but they are always with me. I am about to stop buying bottled spring water and start to drink tap water. I will not enjoy it, but it is necessary. The photographs in The Herald of all that plastic litter everywhere are truly frightening, and shaming.
I hope that the Cup Movement succeeds.
Thelma Edwards,
Old Comrades Hall,
Hume, Kelso.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with trying to find ways of reducing the waste produced by discarded coffee cups.
However, surely it does not entirely come down to these. We live in a culture of takeaways where the majority of litter seems to be of this nature, whether it be cans, bottles (glass and plastic), food wrappers and even discarded alcohol containers.
Most of the time the source of the waste is easily identified, given the outlets' names are emblazoned thereon.
Would it not be appropriate therefore that, where the source of the waste originated can be identified , it is the outlet that should take some responsibility? Even if this were simply a responsibility for cleaning the area surrounding their premises?
On a separate matter regarding alcohol containers, is there not already a law about consumption of alcohol in public? A more serious approach should be taken to enforcing this.
Daniel McColgan,
47 Murrayfield, Bishopbriggs.
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