@Gnomeshatecheese I was thinking that setting up the waste processing plants - creating the output - would have been a better way to go, and the loss til input ramped up would be a useful purpose for public funds, instead of expecting everything to be profit bearing or not exist.

but it's disheartening to know that deals and stupidity are everywhere. we need somebody to look up to!

you are right it should have been done gradually, but that's boring. having systems that work in place before scaling upward. much better to start a new company with a CEO on £300k salary and 54 employees, buy machines to scan the bottles and cans.... and then realise you'll have to ship them to England because we don't have any waste processing capacity here. eejits.