Red rubber bands - more than just litter?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/0 ... bber-bands" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In the last week a small war has erupted over tiny red pieces of rubber. To some they are manna from heaven, to others little more than an eyesore. On one side a horde of utilitarian hobbyists has found 101 different uses for the Royal Mail's humble red elastic band. On the other, supporters of a new Keep Britain Tidy campaign want them off our streets for good.

The campaign, launched this week, argues that postmen dropping rubber bands are littering and should face the £80 fine for doing so. "It's not the biggest crime in the world ever," remarks campaign spokesman Dickie Felton knowingly, "but people look up to them, and it sends the wrong message." He wants residents to send him any red rubber bands they find. Next month he'll be posting them all back to Royal Mail. "Maybe this action can help clean our streets," he says, "and save Royal Mail a few quid in the process."

Not everyone would be happy to see them gone though. In recent days, fans at watercoolers and messageboards have frantically catalogued their myriad functions, including tie-dying clothes, extending the waistbands of trousers, childproofing just about anything, and, of course, firing paper pellets across the classroom. There are, however, limits to their uses, as one enthusiast learned when she earnestly posted the question "Can you use an elastic band to neuter your cat?" to an online messageboard. The answer's no.

Meanwhile, in one small Bournemouth communications business they have been harvesting Royal Mail elastic bands for 20 years. On a plinth in manager Robin Seccombe's office sits a monument to the generosity of the postal service: a 10in-wide ball of elastic with a thin red crust and a manilla centre. Robin estimates the outer layer began to form five years ago, when Royal Mail switched to red rubber to make them easier for staff to spot.

The red bands proved especially popular. Even with staff reusing millions each week, the combination of red rubber hoarders and careless couriers has led to a steady rise in demand. Last year Royal Mail bought 872m red rubber bands at a cost of more than £1m.

We can have a free supply of red rubber bands or we can have clean streets. It seems we can't have both. So pick your side, protect your eyes and get ready for the biggest elastic band fight ever.

[stokes11eg]

RIGHT---if all the rubber band complainers line up, i will use the mounds of discarded dog poo to take aim.!
I personally always pick mine up, and put in my pouch, but sometimes I confess they must stick to the bottom of
my bundles,and escape unseen. (PIcked up the next day)--It''s time some of life's complainers got a life!!

let war comence.

[Broxi51]

RIGHT---if all the rubber band complainers line up, i will use the mounds of discarded dog poo to take aim.!
I personally always pick mine up, and put in my pouch, but sometimes I confess they must stick to the bottom of
my bundles,and escape unseen. (PIcked up the next day)--It''s time some of life's complainers got a life!!

let war comence.

[rhino49]

I may have mentioned this before - but the independent leafleters now use the same bands, obviously sold to them or the people preparing their bundles as "quality product as used by royal mail" and in my experience it is they who are the culprits. I keep all bands, they either go round my wrist or onto the cycle's handlebars so when I see pairs of them dropped in gardens, on doorsteps and on street corners on my walk I know it isn't a postie that's doing it.

Has anyone tried to use a band that has been on the street for a couple of days - in that respect they DO meet the description given in that they have already started to lose elasticity and to break up - they are in fact almost useless for any demanding stretching over bundles. I find it hard however to imagine that it is sunlight that degrades them as we haven't seen enough this year to make a difference.

The pointing of an accusing finger at the postie is the usual "Angry of Mayfair - retired - do gooding - not got anything better to do - I'll justify my existence" type of behaviour we have had to get used to in the world we struggle to survive in. Our politically correct blame everyone else society with it's jobsworth wardens and rip off rule makers needs to be confronted and told to piss off and get a life.

That's it guys and gals, rant over - now spend your day looking at the trees and gardens and smiling at your customers instead of constantly looking at the floor, wondering if purely by accident rather than the inferred design, you have left a potential £80 fine lying behind you. If you have, the dog that actually chokes on it will probably be the first one ever and the only one this century.

[Broxi51]

I could understand their justification for this if I could walk round my hometown without tripping over cans, bottles, dog sh*t etc. But I cannot and until they can clear the real litter thay should crawl back under the f*cking stone they came from. Beaurocratic asswipes who have nothing better to do and are obviously under scrutiny incase loony tunes broon throws more money down the drain.

[DGP1]

It's the broken bottles that really annoy me if they clean up the broken glass from everywhere then the whole area would be safer and look better but the problem is the people smashing the bottles would most likely glass anyone trying to fine them whilst us law abiding citizens are the only ones that'll be fined

[BELIAL]

Rubber bands are not good ,but I can live with them, I have slightly more concern about PCB's :Dioxins; strontium 90, true they ain't visible but eight legged babies cost loads to keep in shoes
Safe Issues ,Dont you just love em

[rhino49]

Rubber bands are not good ,but I can live with them, I have slightly more concern about PCB's :Dioxins; strontium 90, true they ain't visible but eight legged babies cost loads to keep in shoes
Safe Issues ,Dont you just love em

Local dish Chicken Kiev is a real problem since Chernobyl - the chickens taste even better but with eight legs each, you can't catch them!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Rubber bands are not good ,but I can live with them, I have slightly more concern about PCB's :Dioxins; strontium 90, true they ain't visible but eight legged babies cost loads to keep in shoes
Safe Issues ,Dont you just love em

Local dish Chicken Kiev is a real problem since Chernobyl - the chickens taste even better but with eight legs each, you can't catch them!

4 Legged variety is easier to catch apparently.

[rhino49]

Rubber bands are not good ,but I can live with them, I have slightly more concern about PCB's :Dioxins; strontium 90, true they ain't visible but eight legged babies cost loads to keep in shoes
Safe Issues ,Dont you just love em

Local dish Chicken Kiev is a real problem since Chernobyl - the chickens taste even better but with eight legs each, you can't catch them!

4 Legged variety is easier to catch apparently.

True - but they only feed an average family - the eight legged ones in the KFC large bucket can be used as a "build a chicken" game for pre supper fun.