Paper Inspection.

 All about the paper bin.

It usually, no actually always, falls on a Monday. Paper bin collection. Waste paper that is. Once every five weeks or so they come to collect all of our accumulated papers to be discarded. And a lot there always is. What isn't wrapped in firstly a layer of superfluous plastic and then sturdy cardboard or paper? Everything it seems and thus the paper bin is mostly overflowing.

Walking on those days is extremely interesting and informative. All about the neighbours!! Paper days reveal the oft amazing buying habits of those close by. Bulky boxes ( ie, tv, computer, furniture or household appliances ) don't fit into the bin and thus have to be put next to it.

Hardly any packaging comes without a logo, picture or big letter name and so it is easy to piece together who watches television with a wall sized tv, or who has again upgraded their laptop, who has a fancy fridge in their kitchen or who now sits on a nicely cushioned work chair to name but a few. Nothing is hidden from prying eyes. Mine for a change!

It astonishes me to witness throughout the various collection-Mondays that mostly the same families buy as if there is no tomorrow. Boxes upon boxes stacked up next to already overflowing bins. How much does one need?

Today is the last day before Austria's hard lockdown and  news reports showed chaotic  scenes at shopping malls and hardware emporiums. The big shopping chains weren't doing this crisis any good by giving a 50% discount on shoes and furniture etc. An invitation for the virus to spread among the queues of waiting customers, not to mention the obscene amount of packaging that will be thrown away next paper bin collection day.

Collectively we need to curb our enthusiasm for arbitrary needless shopping. A tv reporter brought this fact home when interviewing an older ( risk category ) lady outside a Vienna Shopping Center;

                          " What did you buy before tomorrow's lockdown ? "

                           " A wallet and some other things. "

                           " Oh, are you going to use this wallet during your lockdown? "

                           " No, but it was half price! "

Sad how the lure of a half price wallet is worth putting yourself in danger of catching this horrid corona virus....

Biggi