Missed census opportunity over recycling

I’VE been completing the parts of the Census that can be completed before March 27, 2011, and if this is a reflection of government thinking then they aren’t thinking about household energy conservation and recycling etc.

For example, question H11 could have options for open, closed and combi systems. It could also include household wind generation, solar panels and so on. There could be a question about recycling and the amounts recycled by households and see if this tallies with the amounts given by local authorities and companies. There could be a question about water conservation; is rainwater collected and used, is clean water use reduced?

Question H14 should include motorbikes and pedal cycles. It should also include a part about the fuels used. And finally I’m surprised there isn’t a question about telecommunications usage.

The Government claims to be serious about the environment, it also claims to be serious about broadband roll-out and telecommunications.

Without accurate information about different sectors of society and different areas of the country, how are the government going to make cost-efficient decisions?