http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15118516


Hmm - suddenly money is being found. The whole “austerity” strategy is clearly to cut more than is needed, and then hand back stuff leading up to the next general election. It looks like we’re being given something.

My council never changed it. I get a weekly collection. In many ways weekly collections have advantages in that not as much is collected each week. Because my wheelie bin is on the street the majority of what is in their is from other people. I only manage to put 1 shopping bag of rubbish in there a week.

We've always had weekly bin collections. Bloody annoying.

I'd happily have 2 week collections like the recycling. I think if you're in an area where you have wheelie bins and space then there should only be fortnightly collections.

We have weekly bin collections but they don't really bother with recycling stuff for some reason, so now we just dump it in with normal rubbish.

For years now we have had 2 collections. Normal waste one week and recyclable stuff the next. It's never been a problem and I really can't see why people complain about this.

I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times we've had trouble wit full wheelie bins and nowhere to put stuff.

I'm totally in favour of recycling what can be recycled and we are/try to be meticulous about separating rubbish. What does need addressing in my opinion is packaging of stuff at source.

If they could practically implement a system, without others dumping waste in your bins, I would like to see having to pay for household waste and getting paid for the amount recycled.

Currently they get free resources from us, I mean we don't even get money back on bottles anymore, so payment made biased towards the recycling would help I believe.

Like I say the practicalities of it are troublesome, theft from recycling and dumping waste in other peoples bins would have to be counted against somehow.

Well the problem is that as a nation there are too many chancers who would either nick your recyclables and dump rubbish in your bin. Though I do think that it would be better. Though a better option is a reduction in packaging overall. I would love to see a ban on food stuffs sold in containers that are not recyclable. My rubbish is minimal as I get my meat from the local butcher in simple bags, which take up little space in the bin. No other packaging. I get my veggies loose so that means no packaging or a simple paper bag. It can be done. Shrinking bins over time would force families to get greener.

Stupidity.

Back home we've had fortnightly collections of general waste for six years or more. Green waste and recycling has been collected on a weekly basis. In Aber we've had weekly recycling and green waste and fortnightly general waste collection for the last year with much success.

The only people I've heard complaining are those who acknowledge that they don't sort their rubbish in any way (i.e. it all goes into one bin), and those who have many children (more than 3) or many pets (several cats and dogs). While you can't just get rid of a child, you can choose to not replace a pet, and everyone can learn to put things in the right bin...

£250m could build new schools, or perhaps help fund some university projects? Aber has taken so many students this year (partially through pressure from the government and UCAS) that it has fitted many of the rooms with bunk beds because it can't afford to build more hall of residence. It could help improve hospitals or doctors surgeries...

Weekly general waste collections are no longer needed. And if individuals do generate too much [LIFTED], they can always transport it to the relevant place themselves.

I can see your point but how much waste does a dog generate? If you have a garden the poo goes on the compost, the food if cans can be recycled quiet easily. Cats with cat litter might be a little difficult but even so sorting the rest of the waste should be done.

I can think of much better uses for £250m, not scrapping EMA for example.

Personally I'd prefer if council tax was charged per occupant.

Want children? More council tax.
Want pets? More council tax.

That way people who use more services will actually pay for them.

They kind of do that a bit in reverse. I get a 25% discount on my council tax because I'm a 'sole occupier'.

Jon

You mean like the Community Charge?

I remember when it was called "The Poll Tax". There were riots.

However, I'd be quite a fan provided it was done correctly and fairly. I say "fan" - I mean almost anything would be less unfair than the current situation. My council tax was working out at over 9000% of my income at one stage when I was only earning part time.

Considering I only put my black bin out for collection about twice a year, that's not great value for money. The family opposite pay about the same, and always have their extra-large bin overflowing.

But these are the same people who don't sort their rubbish, so it all goes in one bin...


IIRC council tax is, among other things, calculated on the number of rooms, etc you have in your house. Therefore if we all lived in appropriately sized houses we'd pay around about the correct proportion.


EMA is like any other benefit, they don't take enough into consideration. My friend's parents earned about £5k less than mine, but he was an only child while I had a younger brother and sister and that wasn't taken into consideration.
Scrap EMA too as far as I'm concerned, everyone I know that got it didn't think about getting part time jobs and spent it getting drunk, while the rest of us had to earn our drinking money, and budget to buy revision books, etc...