We all want to save the environment and the planet from climate changes; so news commentators tell us daily. Consequently, Local Authorities up and down the country are paving the way to ensure that we all do our bit to recycle more household refuse; with encouraging results so far, but the public services providers want better results than the miserly 25% being achieved at present, with the rest of the rubbish produced going to landfill sites.
Hence, more and more authorities have come up with a cunning plan! Make weekly bin collections a thing of the past, force households to fill bins to overflowing capacity, therefore, compelling them to recycle more. Or, so the rationale goes... to the ‘delight' of the local rat population.
More than a third of councils in England have now abandoned weekly collections of rubbish. As a result, they say, their recycling performance has improved. But critics are worried about the possible health implications of rotting food lying around.
Rats live successfully throughout UK in both urban and rural environments; the most commonly found in our cities is the brown or Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus. Rats mostly travel at ground level, but they can climb and jump well especially if lured by an inviting bin full to the brim with refuse, and are superb swimmer enabling them to navigate trough sewers and drains and easily get in to homes via domestic pipes or alternatively, they gnaw their way in.
Rats consume 25-30g of food on average per day and they contaminate everything they encounter with droppings, urine and hair. The merest contact of their whiskers or tails with an otherwise clean household implement is sufficient to pass on diseases to unwary users preparing or processing food for human consumption.
Rats carry a wide range of diseases and parasites that are potentially harmful to humans and animals. Leptospirosis, or Weil's disease, can be fatal to humans. Other diseases, such as Toxoplasmosis and Salmonella, affect both humans and animals, and parasites can present a further hazard.
Another significant problem is the considerable structural damage that can occur due to the gnawing and burrowing behaviour of rats. Problems can range from minor holes in walls and doors and gnawed materials, to structural collapse, flooding, electrical faults and fire. These risks should not be underestimated.
One person that has ample proof of the danger posed by rats in our midst is Charlie Mullins, Managing Director Pimlico Plumbers, London's largest independent plumbing company. "Rats will soon become most unwelcome house guests if weekly bin collections are scrapped" he warns.
"Rats are already everywhere, even in posh areas of London like Kensington and Chelsea. They are a familiar site in drains, kitchens and bathrooms where Pimlico plumbers and drain-jetters work daily, and the changes which could see bags of waste lying on streets for up to a fortnight could cause rats infestation spiral out of control" Charlie added.
Charlie Mullins said: "My Company is environmentally friendly, but there is a fine balance here. I believe the health of people is the most important thing and that must be in danger if rat population is ‘encouraged' to grow as a result of tackling a different environmental issue. More recycling more rats, I think so!"
The danger is already there as it is, with daily incidents of rat encounters as the Pimlico operatives go about their business working exclusively, as they do, in domestic surroundings.
Whenever a CCTV camera is deployed to inspect the causes of drain blockages it also reveals an underground world populated by rats only few feet under the floor boards.
The dedicated operatives, clearing the detritus produced by the rodents, are in constant danger of being exposed to diseases. To counteract this they have to wear protective clothing, quiet uncomfortable working in warm domestic surroundings. And also they have to be given regular jabs for Hepatitis A, B and C, Polio, Tetanus and Typhoid, to counter the dangers posed by rats.
And, you don't have to be someone clearing drains to face the same hazard. Only recently an electric engineer called out to check a faulty washing machine, while he was inspecting the wires at the back of the appliance was ‘jumped' by a rat sheltering in the void between wall and machine. The engineer suffered a nasty bite to his forearm and was hospitalised for a week and given potent dosages of antibiotics before he was declared out of danger and discharged.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places responsibilities on employers for the health and safety of their employee. This has relevance to the risk of rats transmitting disease. Consequently, Pimlico Plumbers ensure that an assessment is carried out of the risks to their operatives' health arising from rodent-born diseases. Any engineer found at risk is now given up-to-date vaccination.
Imagine what it would be like if rats infestation spiralled out of control!