Waste is one of the biggest problems facing the two county councils in Sussex and Brighton and Hove City Council.

There are hardly any holes left to dump it in and most people are not keen on having waste plants anywhere near their homes.

Efforts are being made to increase the amount of rubbish which is recycled.

This week a campaign is being launched encouraging people to think really hard before they buy anything.

A case in point is nappies. Many mothers may think it is easier to buy disposable nappies and chuck them into the bin after they have been used.

But these nappies are one of the biggest sources of waste in the country and they cannot be recycled.

It is far better for the environment if parents buy traditional cotton nappies which these days do not involve the endless boiling needed in the past.

Shoppers also need to think whether the large amount of packaging is really necessary on many of the goods they buy.

It is much better and cheaper for all concerned to buy a product in a paper bag, as our parents did, than buy something encased in plastic and cardboard.

Reducing the amount of waste we produce and ensuring most of it can be recycled is one of the most important decisions we can all make in our daily lives.

We don't often think of the result of dumping rubbish but soon in Sussex it will be long journeys to tips or controversial incinerators.