Cllr Paul Donovan on the increasing amount of waste

On a recent litter pick, it took very little time to fill a bag with all sorts of discarded waste - cans, plastic bottles, cups, paper and fag ends. There seems no end to it, much of it thrown out of car windows or just casually dropped by pedestrians.

Why do human beings have so little regard for the environment in which they live?

The amount of rubbish taken out of Wanstead is incredible thanks to the efforts of volunteer litter pickers and professional street cleaners. Many will have seen the bags mount up, waiting to be picked up on the high street.

Then there are the bins on George and Christchurch Greens that are emptied regularly by Vision staff.

The council brought in wheelie bins a few years ago. This was to encourage less waste and more recycling. It has worked to a degree, but the levels of actual household waste created show little sign of reducing 

Paul Donovan is calling for everyone to take responsibility for their waste It seems there is a total disconnect between the climate crisis going on around us and people's individual lives

The consumer society of buy, use and throw away has brought us to the brink of environmental disaster. The land and oceans are filling up with plastics and other waste products. We are literally choking on our own rubbish.

To have any chance of surviving, there needs to be a total change of mindset. We all need to live more simply, tread more gently and have a greater sense of the consequences of our actions.

In the case of waste, this means creating less. Food waste is a huge problem - why can people not buy what they are going to eat, rather than throw so much away?

Think a little more holistically, the problem does not end when the waste is taken away from your home.

Another huge amount of waste is created by building work. Extensions, rebuilds and new kitchens create massive amounts of waste. Yes, good contractors ensure this waste is disposed of responsibly, but it still needs dealing with. 

Do people need to rip a house or flat apart, as soon as they move into the place? It is incredible to see practically new kitchens in skips outside houses.

Just because people have the money and can do something doesn't make it the right thing to do.

The time has come to think more holistically about what we do.

Think of the community and the consequences of the way we live.

We all need to live more simply and sustainably on this earth or in time we will destroy the very basis of life.

A councillor-led monthly litter pick takes place at 10am on the third Saturday of each month. Starting point is Woodbine Place by the buses - equipment provided - next date is November 16.

• Paul Donovan is Labour councillor for Wanstead Village ward, Redbridge Council and a blogger (paulfdonovan.blogspot.com).