One of the many advantages of the Internet is the ability it gives us to be able to see what's going on in the rest of the world - and I don't just mean the 'big' news, but the little things that may be of particular interest to us as individuals. This, amongst other things for me, is cleaning, hygiene, waste management, recycling and how these issues are tackled, along with the public perception of cleaning and the treatment of our environment by individuals.

It strikes me that there's a growing pattern of disrespect for our environment and with it those who are paid to maintain it. That a dirty environment affects all of us, means that there's a growing disrespect amongst some, for those who also occupy that environment. Is it just my perception of things, or simply down to what I'm reading? Do please let me know how you see things from wherever you are in the world.

Closer to home in a South West London borough, a man posted a pic in a social media group of a rubbish bin tipped over in an alleyway. It appeared to have been ridden into by a cyclist who may have been injured in the collision, as a bike was amongst the spilled rubbish. While the man was furious with the council, those commenting said they hoped he'd reported his findings and taken steps to prevent further accidents by moving the hazards. The consensus was: "It's all very well grumbling but we all have our part to play in improving things". Perhaps the tide's starting to turn?

Another London borough had placed what I thought to be a well-designed poster about waste, headed up 'Let's SCRAP flytipping' along a pathway. It illustrated different types of waste and what should be done with them to cut council clean-up costs and reduce landfill - thus encouraging residents to 'do the right thing'. A video's circulating of a woman dumping several bags of rubbish alongside the poster (she may not have been the only one to have done so) and stopping to read the information between trips. While at first glance she appeared to be thumbing her nose at the authorities, I think she actually believed it was a waste collection station, particularly when she retrieved bits that were blowing away and added them to the pile! I reckon the council needs to rethink that one... great idea but better execution needed.