Don't throw veggie and fruit waste in your normal garbage, recycle, but not those things, don't buy plastic bags, not even the biodegradable ones. Don't buy foods that are over-packaged in plastic containers and glad wrap. Instead of all the negatives, please can we have colour coded containers that tell us which items can be recycled and information in large enough letters that inform us what we can do with our waste.

Supermarkets, please return to paper and cardboard and fruit and vegetables that are not pre-packaged in plastic and polystyrene.

The public only buys what's available.

Could this newspaper have a regular spot for recycling and food composting ideas?

ENERGY Minister Guy Barnett needs to give an assurance that he will ensure Bell Bay Aluminium Smelter will not face power restrictions during the summer and loss of production.

A report in a national press publication on November 28, 2019, warns of impending power crisis. Australian Aluminium Council executive director Marghanita Johnson said "I have real concerns about whether or not we will still have four smelters to talk about high prices in six months.

Ms Johnson further states and I quote "While the new reliability standard could not be rushed, she had concerns about whether the four big Australian smelters: Portland, Tomago, Boyne in Central Queensland and Bell Bay in Tasmania would make it unscathed through the summer" end of quote.

The state government must ensure Hydro Tasmania does not export power to the detriment of Tasmanian industry and employment.

SO another young Australian has found himself in trouble and banged up in Bali.

Why is it that some people think they can behave as they do in Australia in another country and are surprised when they do something stupid and are called to account?

Our name must be associated with drunkenness and loutish behaviour in some parts of the world and anyone who misbehaves deserves everything thrown at them.

I SEE Scott Morrison wants to cut age pensions and Newstart, asset testing for their home. Remember the election speech. This is a victory for quiet Australians. Really Prime Minister?

It sounds like the LNP is running a draconian dictatorship. They still want to change the retirement age to 70, technically a death tax. Their calculations are, by increasing the age pension to 70 they are hedging their bets hoping that they die so they don't have to pay. I just hope the people in Tasmania take note of this, as ScoMo's only friend is business, not the average quiet Australians.

IN (The Examiner, December 1) Brian Wightman asks, "Is the cost of fireworks worth it"? He concludes, however, with all the challenging and tragic circumstances across Australia, it would be appropriate to use the money to support those most in need. I conducted fireworks for Taste of Tasmania for five years and have been in fireworks for 25 years. Fireworks are the most cost-effective form of large scale free public entertainment. I can turn up with a few helpers and a small truck and entertain 50,000 people for 50 cents per person.

Now that's cost-effective and cheaper than a $100 ticket to the opera. The fireworks contract for Sydney New Years Eve was less than $1 million when I looked at the tender document a few years ago. Who knows where the other $5 million goes?

Anyhow, millions of people watch the fireworks live and tens of millions watch it on TV, so it costs way less than a dollar per person. I cannot understand why fireworks are singled. What do fireworks have to do with bushfires? Maybe Mr Wightman would like to write in arguing that we should cancel the Taste of Tasmania, the Sydney to Hobart or Dark Mofo. Surely he doesn't feel it is inappropriate for us to spend some money on Christmas because of the bushfires in Queensland and NSW?

WHAT a joke Launceston is becoming, cutting the speed limit on the Southern Outlet has become more hazardous than it was before the speed reduction.

You have cars almost rear-ending trucks, or cars pulling out with no indicators cutting other cars off heading into town, and heading out of town is the same scenario.

You have trucks sitting in both lanes trying to build up enough speed to get up the hill.

Whose hands will the blood be on when something catastrophic happens?

I'M a proud mother, nan, great nan and I was so privileged to stand with pride on November 23 at the cemetery.

The respect and mateship these so-called (arrogant, stupid, dangerous) gangs have for each other is the most amazing thing I have seen. Yes, I have had the privilege of sitting in their clubhouse, never have I had such respect.

I am 76-years-old, I wore leather jackets, my kids' father was a bodgie, I was a widgie, we rode in gangs like our so-called Outlaws love riding their Harleys.

We loved our bikes.