So there is a move afoot by some residents for our local district council to start using wheelie bins for refuse collection.
I understand there is downside with the current system, ie some residents experiencing raided and torn refuse sacks, but those residents petitioning for wheelie bins should consider the downsides.
Firstly, most towns that use them suffer from wheelie bin blight. That is the ugly sight of bins littering the pavements and grass verges, thus devaluing the home you have paid many thousands of pounds for, because buyers who see this blight around their prospective home.
Secondly, each resident has to find space for two large plastic bins instead of the small amount of space in for a few plastic rolls.
Thirdly, from time to time you may have to clean them or pay a contractor to clean them for you.
Fourth, two journeys will have to be made, one to put out your bin, another to return the bin. And those residents who think they can leave their bin outside their house might cause the introduction of a fine system for leaving the bin out after the day of collection.
Fifth is cost. All refuse collection vehicles will have to be fitted with a lifting device, or the vehicles replaced. And all residents will have to be issued and sign for a bin, with the onus on the resident to replace the bin if it goes missing. Some residents might lose their bin or have it stolen, and then attempt to put their rubbish in another’s bin, causing the bin holder to be fined for having an overfull bin. Oh yes they have electronic detection systems for that.
Sixth is collection time. Observing our well organised refuse collectors at the moment, the time taken to walk from the vehicle and return with a full sack in most residential roads is less than a minute. The time taken with wheelie bin collectors is about three times that, and since time is money in any operation, the cost of collection will more than double.
Residents will be able to retain the current costs though, by reducing their rubbish collections to fortnightly, and have to store smelly refuse for longer. Or double that part of their rates to pay for the new service at the same level of frequency. There will have to be a residents’ vote on this, or your councillors will choose for you.
Personally I’d prefer to stay with the present system, but to get round the issue of torn refuse sacks perhaps our council could issue those residents who request it a refuse sack cover, looking rather like a tea pot cosy, that should cure the current problem, at little extra cost.
Peter Bird
Crowland
