More thoughts from Switzerland

We really need to install far more on-street recycling bins as they have done here in Swizerland. The Swiss bins tend to come in groups of ten: 2 x paper + cardboard; 1 x PET plastic (ie with a 1-5 number on the bottom); 1 x aluminium + tin; 1 x green glass; 1 x clear glass; 1 x brown glass; 1 x bio waste; 2 x ordinary rubbish; and a small battery recycling bin thrown in for good measure. This is how Switzerland has managed to achieve household recycling rates of more than 50% (no 2 in Europe after Austria at 60%). And, unlike us, they use less energy by recycling rather than more. Crucially they do not use commingled collection boxes. And their on-street recycling bins are attractive!

I’ve been zipping around Geneva on their trams. They’re fast, regular, quiet, and environmentally friendly. I’m now fully convinced by the benefits of the proposed London Cross-River Tram (www.crossriverpartnership.org).

My Swiss host was recently caught speeding for the umpteenth time. Instead of banning him from driving the Swiss authorities gave him what I think is an pretty innovative punishment – they made him drive a car that’s only capable of 45km/hr (28mph). Hilarious, humbling and utterly appropriate. Another one for us to try in the UK perhaps?

I'm going to get a reputation!

I know it looks petty at times but I just can't resist.

Those Labour bunnies seem intent on brightening up my Thursday mornings. Every week I scan through the Camden New Journal to see who's insulting whom, and almost every week there's another fantastic quote from the Labour leadership.

This week referring to the decision to axe a commitment to clamping from their manifesto, and thus admitting that their tax-by-stealth methods really are unpopular:

"If that's what it takes to end something that most people saw as unfair then we'll go along with it." (no point of contrition, or suggestion they may have been wrong you notice)

At the election in May, the Labour party was massacred at the polls by an electorate who quite rightly saw them as being uncaring, greedy and out of touch. Will Theo Blackwell and Anna Stewart now do the decent thing by taking their policy one step further and disband the remaining Labour rump?

I suspect not but we can but hope.