Now Bins to be emptied once a month
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Monday June 16, 2008 by David Jarvis for the Daily Express
HOUSEHOLD dustbin collections will be cut to once a month, an industry expert warned last night. He said the move was “inevitable” to force people to recycle more.
The plans were immediately condemned by campaigners who said leaving rubbish to fester for up to four weeks is a health hazard.
Dorretta Cocks, the founder of the Campaign for Weekly Waste Collection, described any plan to move to monthly pick-ups as “unbelievable”.
And Tory local government spokesman Eric Pickles said: “Under Labour you pay more council tax and get less. Cuts to weekly bin collections have already boosted vermin and, during the summer, uncollected rubbish will pose a serious health risk.”
The industry expert predicted collections would be cut to just 12 a year, as in Germany. Read more
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I think that with the way we live that monthly collections would probably lead to all sorts of health issues but I do think that halving the size of the bins while sticking to a fortnightly collection might work?
We all have to reduce what we throw away as much as possible and through that we can drive the changes.
I’m loving reading here, great ideas and so much information!
Sarah
I think it’s all dependent on what goes in the monthly bin, should such a thing happen. A growing number of authorities are now collecting food waste separately and on a weekly basis. If this were the case and all other recycling opportunities were in place the landfill bins would only contain hazard-free dry waste, such as crisp packets, clingfilm wrappers, etc.
People would probably be pleasantly surprised how little rubbish would end up in their wheelie bins and a monthly collection would probably be all that was needed.
There is a long way to go yet and at least this article will raise awareness, despite the fact that it will also arouse suspicion amongst an already suspicious and waste-sensitive public.
Hi Sarah and Mrs A,
I thought this was a great article and it produced many emotive responses.
I agree that if we were to switch to monthly collections tomorrow, it would be disasterous for a lot of people.
I feel though, that with education, and a step up in facilities from the local councils; as Mrs A mentioned (either collection of cooked food waste or how about giving each household a couple of bokashi bins?) it could be a great idea.
There will be difficulties in some areas; I appreciate that. And these people should be given more help.
For example, I was reading this morning that in one area, doorstep collections in a block of flats have been stopped because the build up of rubbish in the corridors was proving to be a fire risk.
I am well aware that it’s easy for me as we do have the room to store our recycling.
From doing my own challenge, and seeing what we have achieved in two weeks I am confident that many people *could* manage a monthly collection. The thing is though, there has to be the desire to do it. I couldn’t have done this a few months ago; I simply wasn’t ready.
It’s likely I would have been one of those people who are outraged and scared of the risk of vermin and disease. So, education is the first step. Incentive is another; and I’m not quite sure how you achieve the latter……
Mrs G x
I could live with monthly collections. Nothing grot now goes in our bin that I couldn’t make other (better?) arrangements for, mostly dog waste!! I used to have a dog loo, but I got rid of it when the young Master got too inquisitive. I’m sure I could re-install one.
Poppy x
Poppy, I have this wonderful image of you in my mind as being someone who is living a real life, ‘Good Life’. 🙂
I used to love that series.
Do those dog loos work well? How do you get around the idea of putting dog poo in a plastic bag?
I’ve never quite got that; how one puts a biodegradable and natural substance (that might take a few days to break down in optimum conditions?) into a plastic bag that takes hundreds of years to rot.
But I have a feeling you will have a solution that you’re about to share with us 🙂
Mrs G x
Needs must!
They actually do break down quite quickly as I found to my peril when I used one to store some paint brushes in. Little bits of plastic stuck to everything, including me 🙁
We get nice green bags here. It’s a shame so many of them end up decorating the hedgerows when lazy owners can’t be bothered to find a bin to put them in.
The loo worked really well, but after the first 2 bottles, I found the chemical stuff the recommend surplus to requirements. A good rinse through with the hose pipe was enough to keep things moving.
I’ve also been assured by a fellow dog owner, that as long as you don’t feed meat to your dog, you can put the waste into the compost! Not something I’m willing to put to the test though, as our pins are quite near the house.
Poppy x
You can also make your own dog loo – http://www.plantea.com/dog-waste-compost.htm
Good link – thank you dottyspots. I did have a chuckle at “Garbage collectors don’t want dog waste to go into the truck because it gets messy and the bags explode”
Ewwwww.
That’s a good tip about making your own, seeing as the dog loos I’ve seen have been around £20.
What is a septic starter? Obviously something to start the degrading process, but what would you actually buy in this country? Could you use straw or sawdust like in a human compost loo I wonder?
Well, I never thought I’d be pondering dog poop on a Friday night 😉
Mrs G x
That’s okay for jobbies in the garden, but I’d still need the bags for walkies. Can’t really see me walking round with a shovel in my hand 😉
For *jobbies* when out walking that beloved pet…..
http://www.polybags.co.uk/index_scroll.htm?main=p920_0.htm
“New Biodegradable composting bag. For disposing of kitchen waste. It’s hygenic, easy and eco-friendly. Put it in your compost heap/bin and bag will slowly degrade with the contents. 250 bags in each carton.”
Does that help?
I know someone who uses something like this for kitchen waste too and it keeps the fruit flies down because she can tuck the top closed when not being filled. I think she gets hers in Sainsbury.
I think you can get septic starter from hardware stores (B&Q, etc).
Thank you dottyspots – you live and learn 🙂 I’d never even heard of it……