Chippenham
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Rubbish idea
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| A curious kitty checks out this Chippenham rubbish bin |
PEOPLE across North Wiltshire have hit out at the likely move to fortnightly rubbish collections when the new Wiltshire Council comes into operation next year.
Although the switch is likely to boost recycling in the area, which has one of the lowest rates in the county, the move has already come under heavy fire from taxpayers.
They have major concerns including hygiene issues, fly tipping, problems with space, smell and rodents.
The move to sorted weekly collections will involve household waste being removed once every two weeks and on the alternate week plastic and card would be removed for recycling.
Mum of three Sally Barnes, 42, who lives in Wood Lane, Chippenham, is worried about the amount of rubbish that her family will accumulate in two weeks.
She said: "We use an entire wheelie bin each week as it is and if we then had to spread it over two weeks it will be horrendous.
"This is a blanket scheme that simply won't work for a majority of families who get through a lot of rubbish.
"I try and recycle as much as possible but there is still a lot we are told to just discard. I am also worried about my youngest daughter Alicia's nappies as they just can't hang around for two weeks."
Residents are also concerned about the cost of the project, which is estimated to be £1.12 million to install and £55,500 for an awareness project.
Patricia Bright of Horsebrook Park, Calne, said: "The only thing that will go up if this happens is tax on domestic rubbish.
"It is just another way for councils to take more money out of our pockets.
"I would urge everyone who struggles to pay their council tax who doesn't want fortnightly domestic collections to protest."
Martin Fuller, 55, of Archers Lane, Malmesbury, said: "This is ludicrous - there are better ways to recycle than this.
It will encourage people to dispose of rubbish in other ways - probably by fly tipping.
"Bins will be overflowing with rubbish and make the whole county look awful.
"I agree something should be done to boost recycling but this is not the way to go."
Members of the Household Waste and Recycling Task Group, who advise the district council on these matters and who have come up with these plans, have admitted there are flaws to the plans.
They have said public perception will not be good and that there is likely to be an increase in complaints regarding smells, maggots and fly tipping.
To add insult to injury the task group has also suggested that the council ensure all wheelie bins are fully closed when put out for collection.
The former executive member for environment Sylvia Doubell said: "Although this scheme is perceived to be wildly unpopular, the fact of the matter is that it works.
"This is the best way to improve recycling targets and once people come around to the idea, I think everyone will see this is for the best.
"People just need a little more education on this."
A bi-weekly collection will not come into force before 2009.
8:40am Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: ahudspith, Chippenham on 1:57pm Thu 8 May 08
If they [the council] really want to boost recycling then more should be done to make recycling boxes/hoppers available.
For example I can recycle tins and glass from my home in the boxes provided (many others I know - especially on Pewsham still havent had boxes delivered!) ... however cardboard is not recycled unless you go to the dump near Sutton Benger (maybe there are hoppers elsewhere in town - but I havent noticed them). There are lots of people without cars ... and cardboard is a very suitable material for recycling.
If they really want to boost recycling then more should be done to make recycling boxes/hoppers available.
For example I can recycle tins and glass from my home in the boxes provided (many others I know - especially on Pewsham still havent had boxes delivered!) ... however cardboard is not recycled unless you go to the dump near Sutton Benger (maybe there are hoppers elsewhere in town - but I havent noticed them). There are lots of people without cars ... and cardboard is a very suitable material for recycling.
Posted by: Jane, Chippenham on 2:02pm Thu 8 May 08
We recycle as much as we can in our house. Any food waste i.e peelings go into the composting bin, the plastic and cardboard is taken to the tip regularly.
In our road only 3 families use their black recycling boxes! for some people it's just easier to throw it all in the wheelie bin than it is to sort out the recyclable stuff.
We recycle as much as we can in our house. Any food waste i.e peelings go into the composting bin, the plastic and cardboard is taken to the tip regularly.
In our road only 3 families use their black recycling boxes! for some people it's just easier to throw it all in the wheelie bin than it is to sort out the recyclable stuff.
Posted by: Faye, Chippenham on 2:07pm Thu 8 May 08
Fortnightly collection would be great if recycling is weekly and a large wheeled bin is provided for it. The small black box currently provided is totally inadequate. When full of glass or newspaper it is impossible to lift. A recycling bin with wheels would be more suitable. Perhaps swap and make the black box refuse and the green bin recycling. The larger the continer provided for recycling the more likely people are to fill it.
Fortnightly collection would be great if recycling is weekly and a large wheeled bin is provided for it. The small black box currently provided is totally inadequate. When full of glass or newspaper it is impossible to lift. A recycling bin with wheels would be more suitable. Perhaps swap and make the black box refuse and the green bin recycling. The larger the continer provided for recycling the more likely people are to fill it.
Posted by: Chris Lynch, Corsham on 3:09pm Thu 8 May 08
[quote][bold]Jane[/bold] wrote:
We recycle as much as we can in our house. Any food waste i.e peelings go into the composting bin, the plastic and cardboard is taken to the tip regularly. In our road only 3 families use their black recycling boxes! for some people it's just easier to throw it all in the wheelie bin than it is to sort out the recyclable stuff.[/quote] That's kind of the point. Make people pay to not recycle and it soon becomes worth doing. One thing I would suggest though to really get people recycling - a rebate on your council tax if you recycle a certain amount. It has been done in other areas and seems to work very well.
Jane wrote:
We recycle as much as we can in our house. Any food waste i.e peelings go into the composting bin, the plastic and cardboard is taken to the tip regularly. In our road only 3 families use their black recycling boxes! for some people it's just easier to throw it all in the wheelie bin than it is to sort out the recyclable stuff.
That's kind of the point. Make people pay to not recycle and it soon becomes worth doing. One thing I would suggest though to really get people recycling - a rebate on your council tax if you recycle a certain amount. It has been done in other areas and seems to work very well.
Posted by: spooks, calne on 4:36pm Thu 8 May 08
They should do something about the packaging supermarkets use that will make the bins less empty.
as for fortnightly collections all it will do is increase people fly tipping.
www.calnetalk.com
They should do something about the packaging supermarkets use that will make the bins less empty.
as for fortnightly collections all it will do is increase people fly tipping.
www.calnetalk.com
Posted by: The Maxter, Chippenham on 12:12pm Fri 9 May 08
I accused sally of using an extra wheelie bin each week, but it actually says, entire wheelie bin. I apologise!
I accused sally of using an extra wheelie bin each week, but it actually says, entire wheelie bin. I apologise!
Posted by: Don, Devizes on 3:50pm Fri 9 May 08
We had exactly the same arguments and whinges in Kennet. But now everyone seems to have pretty much accepted it. Cardboard and plastics are the main remaining bone of contention.
We had exactly the same arguments and whinges in Kennet. But now everyone seems to have pretty much accepted it. Cardboard and plastics are the main remaining bone of contention.
Posted by: wilts man, chippenham on 6:29pm Fri 9 May 08
Well there is a system here. What you do is look out for your keenest recycling neighbour ,they always have room in their wheelie bin ,they will probably brag about this,then all you do is drop a bag into their bin early in the morning of the collection. Then atleast this way everyones micro chip will read "full bin" .
Well there is a system here. What you do is look out for your keenest recycling neighbour ,they always have room in their wheelie bin ,they will probably brag about this,then all you do is drop a bag into their bin early in the morning of the collection. Then atleast this way everyones micro chip will read "full bin" .
Posted by: spacefly, Wiltshire on 9:52am today
I assume then that'll our council tax will halve!!! As they nothing for the money anyway. And the council will collect more recycleable items, not just the ones they make most profit from, or won't invest in the facilities to recycle different materials!
I assume then that'll our council tax will halve!!! As they nothing for the money anyway. And the council will collect more recycleable items, not just the ones they make most profit from, or won't invest in the facilities to recycle different materials!
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