Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 19:55:17 +0100, Owain wrote:

It's not acceptable in hot weather to have bin collections every two
weeks.
I don't think it's acceptable at any time.

Rubbish, for us (a young family of four) every 4 weeks would at least
mean the standard bin bag would be nearly full. The majority of the waste
in the ordinary domestic waste is metalised flims (snack packets etc),
everything else, card, paper, glass, metal, plastics and cartons are
recyled.

Well as a family of five, doing all the recyling 100% properly, there's
no way that one standard wheelie bin is enough - eg here we can't
recycle any plastic, food waste, or any contaminated food packaging.
However, familes of 5 and over can apply for a special Big wheelie bin,
which we've just done. But first they make you wait and monitor your
existing waste production for ages to assess how much over you are, then
apply with a detailed form; then wait and see if you get approved. Then
they say they will send the Bin Police round regularly to rake through
your rubbish to check you aren't abusing the privilege of your Big Bin
entitlement. Meanwhile, with a bin size to match that of the single
pensioner up the road, we are responsible for personally disposing of
any waste over and above our standard bin's-worth.

And another thing.
What happens to our old dustbins? Having converted 70,000 households to
wheelie bins, the council say it's the householder's responsibility to
dispose of their old bins. That's got to be 100,000+ plastic (mainly)
and metal bins? In an area where there's no plastic recycling, too.
And quite what people with no access to a car to transport their bin to
the dump are supposed to do is anybody's guess.

Oh, and one more thing while I'm on my high horse.
Green bins - newly provided for garden waste. In their wisdom, the
council have delivered one to every household, regardless of whether
they happen to have a garden or not. But fear not, we mustn't worry,
because they will come and collect them back from anyone who asks.
Never mind about the hundreds who won't bother to make the phone call,
which will leave the town's streets littered with surplus bins... love 'em.

David